Mary B. Franklin

Mary Bertha (Babcock) Franklin, 84, died on July 25, 2024. She was born on January 14, 1940, the daughter of the late Wallace Lee and Edna Clara (Hurlburt) Babcock. She married Ernest Franklin on October 19, 1963 and enjoyed 57 years with him until his passing in 2020. Mary worked in the Norwich Shoe Factory and at Gladding in South Otselic until she became a stay at home mom in 1966.

Mary leaves behind her children, Peggy Dennis and Thomas Hicks, Connie Davis and Vance Lester, Denise and Greg Cooper, and Ernest Franklin, II; a special daughter in law, Frankie Parker; her grandchildren, Gregory and Abbey Dennis, Jr., Sean and Candace Dennis, Caleb and Lindsay Dennis, Amber Dennis and Buddy Howell, Brittany and Hank Wilson, Mackenzie Simkins, Evan Simkins, Blake Simkins, Ethan Franklin, and Wallace Franklin; ten great-grandchildren; her sister, Lucille Sherpinskas; her brothers, Leo (Skip) and Candace Babcock, and Garry Babcock; her sisters in law, Shirley Demick, Virginia Monday, Janice Scott, Gladys and Preston Branagan, and Gretchen and Thomas Gage; her brother in law, Donald and Norma VanDerwalker; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mary was predeceased by her loving husband, Ernest Franklin; her grandson, Jeffrey Franklin; her brothers, Wallace Babcock, Thomas Babcock, Everette (Chuck) Babcock, and Dwight (Butch) Babcock; her sisters, Clara DiAgostina, and Sharon Church.

At Mary’s request, there will be no formal funeral services. A celebration of her life will take place at 1:00 pm on Saturday, August 31, at Weiler Park in Norwich.