Franklin Pierce Medford

Franklin Pierce Medford III, 80, of Louisville, CO passed away peacefully at home early on Sunday morning, November 19th.Born in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Nov. 7, 1937 to Lydia Tyler and Franklin Pierce Medford II, he attended Columbia International University, graduating in 1959.Marrying Darlene Kay Rhyne in 1961, and starting a family, Franklin completed Masters Degrees in both Divinity and Theology at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He accepted his first position as pastor at Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, VA in 1965, and in 1970 returned to South Florida to pastor First Presbyterian Church of North Miami Beach, where he directed the then depressed inner-city church through redevelopment, while also serving as General Presbyter for Presbytery of the Everglades in Miami.In 1980 Franklin relocated to Louisville, CO where he organized, developed and pastored to a new congregation at Covenant Presbyterian Church until 1991, then served as interim pastor to several Presbyterian churches in the Denver/Boulder area. He retired from the Presbytery of Denver in 2003.With a passion for instruction, beginning in 1985, he taught courses in Philosophy and Religion at Regis University, School for Professional Studies in Denver.Courses included Critical Thinking, Ethics, Eastern and Western Religious Traditions, Adult Spirituality, Death and Dying, and Women, Religion and Spirituality. He joined Lead Faculty at Regis in 1995 and served as Liberal Arts Department Chair from 2007 until his death.Franklin enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, running, hiking Colorado mountain fourteeners, country and western swing dancing, and good food and coffee! You may have seen him frequenting the local Starbucks and other Louisville businesses in his trademark blue jeans and running sh s.A kind, devoted, and generous father and grandfather he is survived by his 3 children, Robin Tyler White, Fort Lauderdale FL, Renay Scotten Medford, Fairfax VA, Franklin Pierce Medford IV, Louisville CO; Grandchildren, Sierra Evans and Caleigh Haverland; and Great-Grandchildren, Taylor and Tyler; along with his devoted partner of 11 years, Anne Breckenridge of Superior, CO.Funeral Services will be held at 10am Tuesday, November 28th at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, 4775 Cambridge St., Boulder, CO 80301. Interment at Louisville Cemetery. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.