Franklin P. Eller Jr.

Col. Franklin Peter Eller, Jr. USMC (Ret.) passed away peacefully on June 19, 2025, at the age of 92. He and his wife Dolores (Dee) Eller had recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary, having been married at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, on April 2, 1956.

“Pete” was born on January 24, 1933, in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Franklin P. Eller and Ethel Webb Eller. He had one younger brother, Ned, who predeceased him in 2020. His early years revolved around family, church, school and friends. Pete often talked about his grandparents. His Grandfather Edward E. Eller owned a poultry business in North Wilkesboro, and would pay him one penny for every egg he gathered from the chicken coops. Growing up Pete and his brother enjoyed visits with his Grandfather on his mother’s side, Sidney B. Webb, who owned a moss business in St. Martinville, Louisiana. Pete’s family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and when he was 12 he began a newspaper delivery route for the Baltimore Sun. Pete later attended boarding school at Georgia Military Academy in College Park, Georgia, where his father had graduated from in 1923.

Pete’s family often visited his Dad’s brother in Annapolis, Maryland, Ernest M. Eller, a Naval Academy graduate, class of 1925, who became a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Pete’s Uncle encouraged him to work toward his goal to attend the Naval Academy. In 1950 Pete enlisted in the Naval Reserve during his final year at the Georgia Military Academy. After graduation Pete attended a year at the Severn School in Severn Park, Maryland, to further prepare for the Naval Academy. Pete was sworn in as a Midshipman at the Naval Academy in the summer of 1951.

Pete’s roommate and good friend at the Naval Academy was Paul E. Sutherland, Jr., who later became a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Paul’s girlfriend, Pat, lived in Washington, D.C., and was roommates with Dee. Paul and Pat introduced Dee to Pete, and that is how they met. After the Naval Academy graduation in 1955, Paul and Pat married. Pete and Dee married in 1956. The couples remained life-long friends.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy, Pete was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1955, and then attended the Marine Corps Officers’ Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.

The next 25 years of Military life were extremely busy for Pete and Dee. They had 5 children (Cynthia, Peter, Alison and her twin Dolores, who passed away after birth, and the youngest James). The family moved 17 times to locations including Georgia, North Carolina, Hawaii, New York, Virginia, Florida, Rhode Island, and their final home base, San Diego, California. During this time, Pete was separated from the family for many years when he was assigned overseas (Vietnam, Japan, and Okinawa) or was aboard ships in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. He attended graduate school at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, New York (received a Master of Science in Business Administration in 1970), and in 1976 he graduated from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Pete had two tours in Vietnam. In 1964-1965 he was the Senior Advisor to the 4th Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Brigade. On December 31, 1964, Pete was severely wounded during an attack by a Viet Cong Regiment. Following his discharge from the hospital 10 days later, Pete returned to duty with the 4th Battalion. In 1967-1968 he was the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, which deployed from Hawaii to Vietnam. In his retirement years Pete enjoyed the 1/27 Battalion Reunions, which were held throughout the United States.

Pete retired from the Marine Corps in 1980. He then worked as an Engineer at Hughes Aircraft Co. in Los Angeles, California. In 1982 Pete was hired by Southern California Edison and was in charge of security at the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. He retired in September 1990. After retirement Pete enjoyed family celebrations, taking care of the grandchildren, working out, swimming in the family pool, and walks on the beach. He also took classes in painting and became quite talented in watercolor and pastels. Many of Pete’s paintings are displayed throughout the family home. Pete and Dee travelled extensively after retirement, and enjoyed cruises and trips to the East Coast, Las Vegas, Canada, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, and East Asia, including a trip to Vietnam.

Pete is survived by his wife Dee, his daughter Cynthia, his sons Peter and James, and 5 grandchildren (Jennifer, Michael, Kelly, JP, and Jimmy). His daughter Alison predeceased him in 2014. Funeral services will be held at Miramar National Cemetery.