George Franklin
June 04, 1938 – January 12, 2018
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Ronald George Franklin
Interment Notice
Our beloved Ronald “George” Franklin, 79, passed away peacefully with family by his side on January 12th, 2018 in Thunder Bay, ON.
Interment services will be performed by Velma Henderson at the Oxdrift Cemetery on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Please join family and friends for fellowship and refreshments following the service in Masonic Lodge Hall.
Memorial services for George took place following his passing. Should friends desire, donations to ALS Canada may be made online or through the Stevens Funeral Homes « Moffat Chapel » P.O. Box 412, Dryden, Ontario. P8N 2Z1.
Ronald George Franklin
Saturday, June 4th, 1938 to Friday, January 12th, 2018
With happy memories of a wonderful lifetime together, the family of our beloved Ronald “George” Franklin, 79, would like to announce his peaceful passing from health complications surrounded by family and loved ones, holding his hands when he died at Saint Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay, ON.
George is survived by his sons Jonathan Janeway (Toronto) and Garret Mouland, by his daughter Crystallee Mouland and their mother Lauretta Baccari, girlfriend Tara O’Brien (daughter Lisa Chabot), (all of Thunder Bay), sister Wilma Bye (Milton), sister in-law Osvalda Franklin (Gordon-predeceased), cousins Wayne Franklin (Shirley) and Maureen (Leo Hrankowski-predeceased) (all from Dryden) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and special family friends.
He was predeceased by his parents Bill and Mabel; brother Gordon, sister Pat Hopkins and brother in-law Norm, uncle and aunt in-law George and Nell Franklin, cousin Sonny Croft and numerous other special relatives and friends.
George was the first of four children born to William (Bill) and Mabel (Skene) Franklin at the Red Cross Hospital in Dryden, ON and was raised on the family homestead and tree farm in Britton Township. Childhood pastimes included working hard, logging, homesteading, community volunteering, socializing and playing on days off and participating in sports and the arts community through dancing, storytelling, playing music, writing stories and creating crafts; hunting and trapping, canoeing, spending time at the lake and in the bush and having adventures and misadventures.
George viewed his childhood teachings as good training for his adulthood and had strong work, family, education, pastime, social, peer and community ethics. He was a great role model.
He attended the one room Britton Elementary School; Dryden High School (1950’s); University of New Brunswick (1960’s) earning a Technical Foresters Certificate; Confederation College earning an Honours Social Work Diploma (1990’s) and earned various health and safety and peer counselling, psychology and sociology certificates.
George served as a Gunner with the 40th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Reserves from 1954-1959 in Kenora, ON. From the 1960’s until about 2005, he was a self-employed tree farmer and forestry business owner and operator in Britton Township and across Canada. During his semi-retirement, George worked in the social work field and became a long-time volunteer with The Council on Positive Aging in Thunder Bay and Saint Joseph’s Care Group. For over 30 years, George was a monthly columnist writing “View of a Few” for various newspapers. At age 79, his first book “Musings and Memories” was published.
George was an amazing family man and father, an avid music lover listening to almost every genre; a book reader having read hundreds of books; he was an accordionist, pianist and guitarist; peer councillor; an explorer who travelled across Canada and Northwestern Ontario; an author, writer and storyteller. He learned how to use all kinds of tools and drive everything from trucks to skidders. George played high school football and participated in gymnastics. As an adult he enjoyed Judo, Thai Chai and going for long daily walks. Time spent working, celebrating and socializing with his children, family and loved ones was Dad’s favourite pastime.
He had nine lives and survived many hazards, injuries and medical conditions and went on to live a longer life than medically expected. George had many life accomplishments including raising kids, being a loving partner, friend, family and community member and meeting every challenge he faced with grace, laughter, humility, truth, courage, respect, wisdom, honesty and love.
It was our good fortune and one of the best adventures of all our lives to be a family and have George as our Dad, friend and family member. His character and teachings left a wonderful legacy in his children and family, with all who have known him, and in every community, he visited and lived in. His teachings, gifts, humor, love and personality were the best inheritance he gave to us. George will be dearly missed by his children, family, girlfriend, friends, coworkers and community.
Funeral Services for Ronald George Franklin will be held Saturday, January 27th, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in First United Church, Dryden with Velma Henderson officiating assisted by Alice Bloomfield. Please join family and friends for fellowship and refreshments following the service in Fellowship Hall. Interment will take place late spring at the Oxdrift Cemetery.
A private family visitation took place in Thunder Bay, ON at Sargent and Sons Funeral Home.
A “Celebration of Life” will take place in Thunder Bay, ON mid-February 2018 for those who cannot attend the funeral.
Should friends desire, donations to ALS Canada may be made online or through the Stevens Funeral Homes « Moffat Chapel » P.O. Box 412, Dryden, Ontario. P8N 2Z1. In lieu of cards and flowers please send stories of our father George to stevensfuneralhomes@shaw.ca.
Thank you to Saint Joseph’s Care Group, friends, family and colleagues for attending to Dad’s health care.
SERVICES
Memorial Service
Saturday, January 27, 2018
1:00 PM
First United Church
23 Van Horne Ave.
Dryden, ON P8N 2A6
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de George Franklin June 04 1938 January 12 2018..
Décès pour la Ville:Dryden, Province: Ontario