Ronald G. Franck

Ronald Guy Franck, age 79, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, 17 August, 2018, at his home in Yuma, Arizona. Ron was originally from Laramie Wyoming, the son of Guy and Helen Franck. After graduating from University High School, he joined the U. S. Marine Corps. He served nearly 21 years active duty, including five combat tours in South Vietnam between 1964 and 1972, earning a Bronze Star, 5 Purple Hearts and many other awards. He served as a sniper, rifle squad leader, rifle platoon sergeant and rifle platoon commander. He later served as a drill instructor at MCRD San Diego and Primary Marksmanship Instructor at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton. He was also assigned to the MCAS, Yuma, as a marksmanship program director, and later as the Station Training NCO. It was in Yuma where he met and married his wife Maria, a union which bore three children, Charles, Lori and George.

After more than 18 years in the infantry, he retrained as a public information specialist, graduating as Honor Student from the Defense Information School in Indianapolis. He then served at the Camp Pendleton public affairs office as a reporter and photographer. He was later transferred to the MCAS, Yuma, where he was NCO in Charge of public affairs office until his retirement in December, 1976.

Ron returned home to Laramie, enrolled in the UW journalism school, and soon began working at the Laramie Daily Boomerang as a reporter, feature writer, photographer, and eventually as assistant editor.

In 1981, he joined the Albany County Sheriff’s Office where he attained the rank of Patrol Sergeant. He retired in 1998 at the age of 50. He then worked for the Wyoming Workforce Services as a local veterans’ representative and was later appointed by the Governor as the first director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission. He and his wife moved back to Yuma in 2008.

Ron is survived by his wife of 48 years, Maria Franck (nee Martinez), children Kenneth, Franklin, Amy, Charles, Lori, and George, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will forever be remembered for his sense of humor and many jokes.