Ronald Paul Franklin

Ronald “Ronnie” Paul Franklin, age 76, entered into rest on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Huntsville Memorial Hospital. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Edith and William Franklin Sr. on August 9, 1940. He served in the US Army from August 1958 through December 1964 and was stationed in Bad Kissingen, Germany. It was in Germany where he met and married his first wife, Edeltraud Englisch. They married on August 12, 1961 and were married for 44 years prior to her passing in 2005. He married his second wife, Virginia “Virgie” Franklin on July 1, 2005 and they were married for 12 years.

Ronnie retired from Wyman Gordon, formerly Cameron Iron Works, with 41 years of service where he was a machinist and an inspector. In his spare time, he enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, fishing and taking pictures. He was well known for his tasty barbeque, pool shark skills and impressive moves on the dance floor. He was affectionately known as “Opa” to his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was part of the Houston Saengerbund, The Order of the Sons of Hermann, and The Independent Order of Foresters.

Besides his wife, Virgie, Ronnie is survived by his son Rickey Franklin and wife Kerri of Bedias, TX, daughter Christina Lange of Hockley, TX and step-children Charles Chapman and wife Helen of Biloxi, MS, Ricki Porter and wife Barbara of Fallon, NV, and Becky Kilpatrick and husband Brian Gibson of Houston, TX; his grandchildren, Crystal Franklin, David Lange, Chris Welsh and wife Donna, Curtis Welsh and wife Kimberli, Wendy Finney and husband Paul, Captain Lauren Frazier and husband, Major John David Frazier, Alayne Chapman, Kiana Chapman, Jason Williams, John Kilpatrick and wife Liz, Phylicia Kilpatrick, Josh Porter and wife Brandi, Harley Baglin and husband Brandon, Tracy Supercinski and husband Darrell, Bradlee Porter and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his siblings Michael, Amanda, Wallace, Miranda, Winona and Jeremy.

Ronnie is preceded in death by his dad William Franklin Sr, mom Edith McTigret, step-dad Leo “Mac” McTigret, wife Edeltraud Franklin, son William Franklin and wife Gale, grandson Richard Porter and siblings Richard Franklin, Terry Bardenhagen, Mary Franklin and William Franklin Jr.

The family will receive friends for visitation, Thursday, January 19th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at American Heritage Funeral Home at 10710 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held Friday, January 20th at 12:00 pm at the same location. Interment will follow services at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ronnie’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/.