Visitation:
202 W. Maple Street Willard OH 44890 3/10/2016 15:00:00
Service:
202 W. Maple Street Willard OH 44890 3/11/2016 11:00:00
Leonard Norman Franklin, age 90, resident of Willard, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo, Ohio following a sudden illness. He was born August 19, 1925 in Bellevue, Ohio, the youngest child of Fred Sr. and Pearl (Goldsmith) Franklin and had been a resident of Willard most of his life.
Leonard was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Willard, U.A.W. Local 216 in Sandusky, American Legion Post 514 in Willard, V.F.W. Post 3430 in Willard and he was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during World War II.
He is survived by his niece, Barbara Kiel (Herman) of Cygnet, Ohio whom he kept in close contact with along with many other nieces and nephews on the Franklin side. He is also survived by his wife’s cousin Nancy Eldridge and her children Craig Eldridge and Stacey Sidle, whom he considered to be his own, and cousin Jodi Davis (Marion), both of whom took special interest in caring for him, along with many other cousins. He is also survived by his loyal caregiver, Samantha Kamann, who enabled him to remain in his home, and his very special neighbors, Richard and Rita Blum who helped him in so many ways and checked on him every day.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann (Miller) Franklin on January 10, 2001, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage; his parents, Fred Sr. and Pearl (Goldsmith) Franklin; four sisters, Mildred Wonsitler, Irene Avery, Grace Hamman and Ruth Haylett; two brothers, Paul Franklin and Fred Franklin Jr.
Visitation will be at Secor Funeral Home in Willard, Ohio on Thursday, March 10, 2016 from 3:00 until 7:00 PM where a funeral service with military rites will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 11, 2016 with Pastor Luigi Perez officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Willard, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Willard, Ohio.
The last two years Leonard had two wishes; that he reach 90 years of age and that he would be able to stay in his own home. He was blessed to be able to have both!!
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.secorfuneralhomes.com
Condolences
Thoughts and prayers to those left behind – I will always remember Leonard as a gentle, kind soul.
Lenny was such a special man. Our prayers are with you during this time of loss. In God’s Love,