NORTH PHARSALIA – Leon D. “Stub” Franklin, 79, of North Pharsalia, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008, in The Gilmour Health Care Facility.
Born in East Pharsalia in October of 1928, Stub was the son of Ray and Alice (Sheldon) Franklin. He attended school in East Pharsalia and, early on in his life, helped his dad on their farm. Stub and his wife of over 52 years, Grace Blackmail Franklin, were married in Norwich on Sept. 2, 1955. His long-time career as a truck driver with the Chenango County Highway Dept. spanned 38 years. Away from the job, Stub loved to cut wood and raise blue spruce trees, and was an active volunteer with the Pharsalia Fire Dept. To everyone who knew him, Stub was a kindhearted and hardworking man who would give anything to anyone in need. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Stub is survived by his wife, Grace Franklin of North Pharsalia; his daughters and their husbands, Ceta and Jeff Whaley of North Pharsalia and Alice and Dick Thompson of Norwich; and his sister, Julia Agnes Smith of North Pharsalia. He is also survived by grandchildren, Cristi Stone and husband Justin, and Nicole and Logan Thompson; and great grandchildren, Devin, Nicholas, and Shelby Stone.
Funeral services for Leon will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford of Norwich will officiate. Interment will be held at a later date in the J.D. Lewis Cemetery of Preston.
Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from noon until 2 p.m.
Those wishing to remember Stub with a memorial contribution may send it to the Pharsalia Fire Dept., 838 County Road 10, Norwich, NY 13815; or to the Plymouth Fire Dept., Plymouth, NY 13832.