- Date Of Birth: September 21, 1924
- Date Of Death: October 8, 2016
- State: Indiana
Rex E. Franklin, 92, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at 4:40 p.m. Saturday, October 8, at Elkhart General Hospital following an extended illness.
He was born, in Bedford, September 21, 1924, to the late Lex and Truly (Swango) Franklin and later married Marjorie Smith on June 30, 1947.
She survives at home after nearly 70 wonderful years of marriage.
Also surviving are children Lynne J. Christopulos of Goshen and Lon G. (Carol) Franklin of Elkhart; sister Beverly Koontz of Harrodsburg; grandchildren Jason (Autumn) Franklin and Brooke Trout, both of Elkhart, and Char (Mike) Hooley of Goshen; and seven great-grandchildren. Five brothers and one sister preceded him in death.
Although Rex spent more than 16 years at Riblet Products of Elkhart, his entrepreneurial spirit was never quite quenched as he always seemed to be involved with some sort of business opportunity with his wife, Marjorie.
From the early 1960s with Franklin’s Grocery Store to the Play Palace Arcade at Pierre Moran Mall in the 1970s, to being co-owner of Elkhart’s Jason Industries, Rex always was striving to complete his next step.
He also served honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a gunner’s mate aboard various liberty ships, then went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a military police officer where he received a commendation for exemplary service.
