Raymond B Franklin

Raymond Benjamin Franklin died peacefully in the early morning of 11 January, 2015, just days before his 91st birthday. Born in Cascilla, Mississippi, the only son (he was known as Son) of four children to Cecil and Raymond B. Franklin Sr. Early in his life, Raymond lost his Father and was raised by his Mother and sisters, Elizabeth (Libba), Virginia (Ginny), and Bonnie, where they ran the family hotel in Holly Springs, MS.

After Pearl Harbor, he was granted an appointment to Naval Academy at Annapolis, but a spot on his lung prevented his enrollment. He was determined to serve and managed to enlist in the Marines, serving in the Pacific Theater. After the war, the family moved to Oxford where Raymond attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). It was there that a blind date introduced him to the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Carolyn Ellis. After graduation, Carolyn taught elementary school while Raymond completed his studies in Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO.

Raymond started his career in 1949 as a division geologist in Shreveport, Louisiana for the Texas Company, later to be known as Texaco. This was to be his first and only employer where he prospered holding numerous titles, eventually becoming General Manager of Exploration for Texaco, Latin America/ West Africa. This allowed him to pursue his other passion: fishing. While searching the world for oil he managed to wet a hook in dozens of foreign lands in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Through his many transfers (Shreveport, New Orleans, Houston, Miami, New York) his devoted wife made a home for him and their three children, Raymond Jr., Stephen Ellis and Martha Carol. Raymond Sr. retired to Melbourne, Florida in 1986 where he volunteered at the Marine Resource Center, became a Master Gardener, continued his fishing, all the while perfecting his golf game.

Raymond is survived by his three children: Raymond Jr. (Jane) of Orlando, Stephen (Nancy) of New Smyrna Beach, and Carol Franklin (Rick) Powell, of Scottsdale, AZ, three grandchildren: Joseph Franklin (Libby) of Washington, D.C., Kathryn Franklin of Chicago, Jonathan Franklin of Boston, and great grandchild, Theodore McCann Franklin. His beloved wife, Carolyn, sisters: Elizabeth, Virginia, and Bonnie, preceded him in death.

Donations in Raymond's memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or to the Colorado School of Mines.