John Nelson Franks
Served in Army, enjoyed dancing
John Nelson Franks, died Thursday, November 14, 2013, in Silver Sands Assisted Living, Ashtabula, Ohio, surrounded by family.
He was born December 16, 1930, in Shanty Town, Crucible, a son of Edward Franklin Franks and Evelyn H. Reagan Franks.
Mr. Franks was a 1950 graduate of Cumberland Township High School, where he was a drum major in the marching band.
He worked at Willard Battery in Cleveland, Ohio, and Kansas City, Mo., Stouffer Frozen Foods as a production manager, traveling extensively setting up their new broccoli and cheese lines in California and Illinois. He returned to Eastlake, Ohio, where he helped set up their new plant in Solon, Ohio. He then went to work at General Foods as a production manager for the cities of Boston, Mass., and Pittsburgh, setting up their school lunch programs. Tired of being in management and the food industry, he went to work at CEI in Cleveland as a plant electrician and retired in 1990. After retirement, he owned and operated Uncle John’s Restaurant in Andover, Ohio.
Mr. Franks served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He enjoyed dancing, gardening, traveling, cooking and playing games on his computer.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are brother Gene Franks; stepfather Earl Blevins; stepbrother Ardiste Blevins; stepsisters Nadine Stevens and Avenell Ledgerton; nephews Gene M. Franks Jr. and John Grant Franks; nieces Debra Ann Franks and Sandra Kay Metz; and great-nephew Alvin Lee Hill.
Surviving are brother Grant (Garnet) Franks of Carmichaels; sister Dorothy McCombs of Andover; sister Portia (Adolf) Fullgrabe of Springfield, Ill.; stepsisters Mary Jo Rutkosky of Rices Landing and Pauline Garvin of LaGrange, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., the time of service, Monday, November 18, in Baumgardner Funeral and Cremation Service, 134 Prospect Street, Andover. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, in Church Hill Cemetery, McClellandtown.
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to SilverSands Assisted Living, 3418 Lake Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004, or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 1166 Lake Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Guestbook is available at www.baumgardnerfuneralhomes.com.