William Lee Franklin

Jesus called William “Will” “Willie” Lee Franklin home on January 14, 2024, after a valiant battle against systemic scleroderma. Will was born March 3, 1957 in Levelland, TX to Leroy and Lillian Franklin. He was the fifth of six children.

After graduating high school in Levelland, TX, he attended Ranger College in Ranger, TX on a baseball scholarship before joining the US Army in 1976, which brought him to Ft Carson. After leaving the Army, he was building his testimony for 17 years in Tucson AZ, where Will surrendered his whole life to Jesus and boy was he ever all in, and it showed in the radiant joy he always carried. He then returned to Colo Springs in 1997.

Though he knew Julie Rowland when she was 18 years old, they met again and Will married Julie, the love of his life in 1998.

Will was an avid sports fan, loving the Philadelphia Eagles and then the KC Chiefs; He also was an avid fan of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and finally became a Denver Nuggets fan as well.

Will worked for SuperTarget for 19 years and Young Life for 20+ years, where he retired from both. Along with his unbelievable work ethic, Will’s infectious smile and laugh brought joy and light to all he met.

You could find Will happiest spending time with his family, laughing, eating bbq, watching sports, entertaining family and friends, cruising on vacations and taking road trips.

Will’s biggest loves were Jesus, Julie (his Frudy), his daughter Arayanna, stepdaughter Natasha, stepson Julian, and his grandson Isaiah as well as his brothers, and nieces and nephews and extended family. He was a lover of people and never met a stranger.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jimmy Ray and sister, Mary.

The Celebration of Will’s Life will be on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 10am at Swan Law's Chapel, 501 N Cascade Ave.

Well done good and faithful servant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the National Scleroderma Foundation in hopes of finding a cure.