G. Franklin Weeks Jr.

G. Franklin Weeks, Jr., 96, of Lufkin, was born August 8, 1915 in Burke, Texas, the son of the late Etta (Gantt) and George Franklin Weeks, Sr. He passed away peacefully on Monday, April 9, 2012 at his residence.

Mr. Weeks was retired from Lufkin Industries, having worked for 45 years in the Foundry Division. He was born and raised in Burke, TX; attending school through the fifth grade at the Old Burke School. After graduating from Diboll High School in 1932, Franklin attended Stephen F. Austin College on and off (as many did during the Great Depression) until graduating in 1937. At SFA, he was very active in the Methodist Bible Chair, later known as The Wesley Foundation. He was very proud to have taught school at Redland for 3 years, and for over 50 years in the Sunday School of Ryan Chapel UMC. He enjoyed gardening and raising corn and butter beans. He was very involved with his church, genealogy, history, and restoring cemeteries with Elwyn Gipson. Mr. Weeks was a member of the Stephen F. Austin Alumni Association and a lifetime member of Ryan Chapel United Methodist church.

Survivors include his son, Franklin Weeks III of Sunnyvale, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Kathi and Dwayne Jordan of Diboll; grandchildren, Derrick Weeks and wife Tiffany, Maegan Lacy and husband Will, Amanda Jordan, Kevin Jordan and Laura Jordan; great-granddaughter, McKynzie Lacy; and a number of other family members and friends.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Weeks was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Norma Grace Ryan Weeks; sister, Mary Alice Copeland; and brother-in-law, John Copeland.

Pallbearers will be Sherri Barfield, Kendra Bentley, Rebecca Lee, Derrick Weeks, Dwayne Jordan, and Charles Weeks.

Services for Mr. Weeks will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012 in the Ryan Chapel United Methodist Church, with Jimmy Blackwell officiating. Interment will follow in the Ryan Chapel Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday at Ryan Chapel United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home