Philip Jay Franklin

A son, brother, uncle, husband, counselor, volunteer, soldier, and friend Philip Franklin died peacefully in the early-morning hours of Monday, June 14, 2021. He was 84. He was born at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 1937, at Homeopathic Hospital of Rhode Island, located in Providence. He was the youngest of four sons born to Myrtle Estelle Maine and Charles Howard Franklin. In fact, he was the baby by a distance. When Philip was born, his oldest brother Stanley was 17, his brother Clifton “Ben” 12, and James 10. They grew up in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Philip was a teenager when his parents died in the early 1950s. By then, his brothers were adults, and at 15, he was taken in by his older brother Ben and Ben’s wife, Grace. He attended North Kingstown High School. In 1954, on the day after his 17th birthday, Philip enlisted in the U.S. Marines, where he served for four years. He spent time briefly in South Korea and served the rest of his tour at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico near Triangle, Virginia. Later on, he would call those years the most formative of his life, and he would become a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. After serving his military duty, Philip was honorably discharged and worked for 14 years as a correctional officer at Lorton Prison Complex, which was administered by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. He received commendations and further education while there. It was during this time that he was married (formerly) to Ruth Ann Shelton. For health reasons, Philip retired from Lorton early, in 1972. In the years following, he volunteered and became a group leader and counselor for Arlington Hospital’s alcoholism treatment unit. In the early 1980s, Philip served as manager at the Serenity Club of Alexandria, Virginia. He also worked various positions as a security officer. He met Ruth Gertrude Williamson in early 1978. Six years later, they were married on Saturday, May 19, 1984, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. For two years, they lived together in nearby Falls Church, then in 1986 moved to their house in Burke, where they would spend the rest of their lives. Philip took great interest in history, specifically the American Civil War. With Ruth’s encouragement, he collected books, videos, and vintage photographs. He liked to watch old Western movies on television. He also liked fishing, hiking, and camping, interests he inspired in Ruth as well. Philip was also a long-standing fan of Washington, DC, professional sports, especially the Washington Football Team. He was fortunate to cheer on the team to three Super Bowl rings and, more recently, to see the Washington Capitals and the Washington Nationals win the Stanley Cup (2018) and the World Series (2019). He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax, Virginia. Philip was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Stanley H. Franklin, Clifton E. “Ben” Franklin, and James E. Franklin. He was preceded in death also by his former wife, Ruth Ann Shelton, and by his wife, Ruth Gertrude Williamson, who died on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Philip was at her side when she passed in their home. They were married for 36 years. He is survived by two stepsons, Andrew Joseph Harmon III and Brian Scott Harmon (Senda Guidara), and by two step-grandchildren, Adam Guidara Harmon and Nadia Yasmine Harmon. He is also survived by three nephews, five nieces, two step-nephews, and three step-nieces, living in Rhode Island, Florida, Idaho, and California. A military memorial service for Philip Franklin will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 28, 2021, at Quantico National Cemetery. He and Ruth Gertrude will be buried there, together.