Carl D. Franklin
November 9th, 1941 - January 14th, 2022
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Carl's Obituary
Carl D. Franklin, 80, of Spring Lake, MI, formerly of Dowagiac, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 14, 2022. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services - Clark Chapel.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St. Dowagiac with close friend Tom Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Decatur. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Carl’s name may be made to the Donor’s Choice. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.clarkch.com
Carl was born November 9, 1941, in Lawrence, MI, to DeForest and Juanita (Brookman) Franklin. He graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1959, then attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA. On June 2, 1964, he married the love of his life, Jean Ritke. Carl was an ordained minister and a professor for Southwestern Michigan college. He was passionate about theology and world history and made a career of writing about these subjects in his later years. In his spare time, he enjoyed bird watching, geneology and movies, especially old classics. Most of all he loved his family and will be greatly missed.
Carl is survived by his loving wife, Jean Franklin; children, Jennifer (Kenneth) Elrod and Daniel (Marlowe) Franklin; 6 grandchildren; stepmother, Esther Franklin; brother, Gary Franklin; and half siblings, Caroline, and Barry; and close step-sister, Linda. He was preceded in death by his parents, DeForest and Juanita; and children, Andrew and Benjamin Franklin.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St. Dowagiac with close friend Tom Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Decatur. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Carl’s name may be made to the Donor’s Choice. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.clarkch.com
Carl was born November 9, 1941, in Lawrence, MI, to DeForest and Juanita (Brookman) Franklin. He graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1959, then attended Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA. On June 2, 1964, he married the love of his life, Jean Ritke. Carl was an ordained minister and a professor for Southwestern Michigan college. He was passionate about theology and world history and made a career of writing about these subjects in his later years. In his spare time, he enjoyed bird watching, geneology and movies, especially old classics. Most of all he loved his family and will be greatly missed.
Carl is survived by his loving wife, Jean Franklin; children, Jennifer (Kenneth) Elrod and Daniel (Marlowe) Franklin; 6 grandchildren; stepmother, Esther Franklin; brother, Gary Franklin; and half siblings, Caroline, and Barry; and close step-sister, Linda. He was preceded in death by his parents, DeForest and Juanita; and children, Andrew and Benjamin Franklin.
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