Franklin Omsted Pitzer

Franklin O. Pitzer

March 15, 1935 – December 19, 2021

Franklin lived a blessed life.

Franklin was born in Victorville, California on March 15, 1935 to Henry Joseph Pitzer and Geneva Catherine Baxter. Franklin was about 12 when he moved to Averill Park, New York with his brother, John. In Averill Park, Franklin met Joan Duell, who would become his wife, when they were both 13 in junior high school.

Upon graduation from high school, Franklin enlisted in the US Army, hoping for a better life for his family. He and Joan married on December 19, 1954 in Averill Park. Franklin served in the US Army for 23 years, attaining the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CW4). He and Joan moved many times during their military years and Franklin served in Korea plus two combat tours in Viet Nam. After retirement, Franklin and Joan settled in High Point, NC, where Franklin spent another career as an instructor at Guilford Technical Community College. In High Point, he was able to complete his Bachelor’s Degree at North Carolina A&T.

Franklin was an optimistic man, who never lost his sense of humor or his sweet spirit. He loved people and they loved him. Above all, he cherished his family and they him. He was seldom idle, preferring to work in the yard or help his neighbors in their yards landscaping, building things, cutting down unwanted trees and inventing just the right thing to do the job at hand. He volunteered in the oncology ward of High Point Hospital for many years.

Franklin is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan, and his two daughters – Karyl and husband (Samir), and their three children – Douglas (Sofie), Jennifer (Jeremy) and Paul; Susan (Wayne) and her four children - Robert Franklin (Mallory), David (Savannah), Kyle (Tiffany) and Audrey Christina (Freddie). Franklin had 5 great grandchildren – Makena, Jonathan, Kayden, Caroline and Delaney.

Those who wish to remember Franklin in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Hospice of the Piedmont (1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262; hospiceofrandolph.org), Saint John’s Anglican Church (6722 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410; stjohnsgso.org) or Pennybyrn Development Office (109 Penny Road, High Point, NC 27260; pennybyrnliving.org).

A Celebration of Life service for Franklin will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday March 19th at St. John's Anglican Church 6720 West Friendly Ave. Greensboro, NC 27410 with Military Honors by the Randolph County Honor Guard. Afterwards that afternoon there will be a gathering of family and friends from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home Sedgefield Chapel, 6000 West Gate City Blvd. Greensboro, NC 27407