Carl James "Butch" Franklin, Jr.
Age 77 of Bear
Passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Butch, the second of five children of Carl and Leona Franklin, was born on June 20, 1947, in West Chester, PA. His early years were enjoyed on farms in rural areas of Unionville, PA, until his family relocated to Elsmere, DE when Butch was in middle school.
Butch married his best friend and wife, R. Gail Franklin, fifty years ago on September 15, 1973. They were blessed with many good things through the years but their son, Ryan, his wife, Joanna, and their two grandsons, Collin and Cameron are their greatest joy.
Butch held various construction and equipment operation jobs though the years. Whether it was installing drywall for many of the homes in New Castle County, or transporting materials for other construction companies, Butch took pride in his work. For fun, Butch who loved NASCAR, spent a summer with Ryan by his side, traveling to many racetracks and selling novelties. He considered it a great accomplishment that he finally retired at 70 years old as a truck driver for Copeland Mulch Company.
Through the years, Butch loved traveling to upstate Pennsylvania to visit family and the mountain hunting camps of friends and to the North East River, where his family camped for many years. However, his greatest joy these last few years was checking off his bucket list wish of owning a corvette and a hot rod. He was able to enjoy owning a few Corvettes these last few years and finally his 1934 Ford Cabriolet. Butch didn't meet a person who he didn't love showing off his hot rod to.
Butch was a person that you didn't forget once you met him. Funny stories abound and pranks too numerous to mention. He was unforgettable. Some of his free spirit could probably be attributed to the fact that he spent time facing life saving efforts in Vietnam at the young age of 18. Butch enlisted in the Marines in 1966 with his friend Sam under the buddy system. Sadly, his friend, Sam, gave his life to save others. Coming home at the age of 20 having already seen a lifetime of sadness, you have a different outlook on life going forward.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Carl J. Franklin, Sr., and Leona Johnson Franklin, and his sister Nancy Rambo and her husband, Dave, and their grandson, David.
He will be dearly missed by his wife of 50 years, R. Gail, his son, Ryan, and daughter-in-law, Joanna and his grandsons, Collin and Cameron. Butch is also survived by his brothers, Steve and Ray; his sister, Kim Mullins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, Jul 10, from 10:00am-11:00am at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home, 1400 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilm., DE 19805, followed by a service at 11:00am. Interment will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a future date.
In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions to: Warriors Helping Warriors, 104 S. Broad St., Middletown, DE 19709