Edward Leon Frankman

Edward Leon Frankman was born Oct. 28, 1929, at Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital, New York City to Samuel Frankman and Sadie Whittenburg Frankman. He was raised in Lakewood, N.J., with his siblings, Irving, Beatrice and Myron Frankman.

A special childhood memory was a tour his family took inside the Hindenburg at Lakehurst Naval Air Station the year before the airship crashed at the airfield on May 6, 1937.

As an ambitious 12-year-old, he would ride his bike around Lakewood with a morning and evening paper route. He would finish up his morning deliveries of the New York Times, The Herald, and the New York Daily News all before school started. After school, he was back on his bike delivering the Lakewood Daily News.

Ed attended Lakewood Public Schools, graduating in the class of 1947. After high school, he began working at Dix Auto Body. Over the years he became a partner and then owner of the business.

For 53 years, Ed served as a volunteer firefighter with Lakewood Hook and Ladder Fire Company No.1. For 18 years, he was Lakewood’s Fire Commissioner and chairman for 10 of those years.

A past exalted ruler of Lakewood Elks No. 1432, Ed served as New Jersey State Elks Vice President of the South-Central District.

Ed and his wife Carol moved from Ocean County to Naples, Florida, in 2006. However, they always made annual visits back to the area.

Survivors include his wife Carol of 53 years, children Linda Reddinger ( Lee) Lebanon, Pa.; Kathy Hanks, Roanoke, Va.; Kim Reinhard, Toms River N.J.; Keith Frankman ( Melissa) Cochranville, Pa.; Richard Frankman (Jeanne) Bayville, N.J.; Todd Frankman ( Kelly) Valrico, Fla.; 10 grandchildren and five great children—his sister Beatrice Sherbet, Teaneck, New Jersey, and brother Myron Frankman, Montreal, Canada.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Frankman family.