In Memory Of
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Barnum (Ben) Franklin, 60, of Topeka, died Saturday, May 14, 2005 at a local care home. He had cancer.
He was born November 7, 1944 in Topeka, the son of Charles Benjamin and Margaret Barnum Franklin. He was in the first graduating class of Topeka West High School in 1962. Paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident near Boulder, Colorado on April 14, 1963, he earned a B.A. degree in Speech from the University of Colorado in 1967.
He was President of the Associated Clubs, Inc. and Knife and Fork International.
He was a member of the American Alpine Club, Downtown Topeka Rotary Club, Explorers Club of New York, Topeka Sales and Marketing Executives, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and the Topeka Knife and Fork club. He was a past Trustee of The Capper Foundation, past Governor of the International Platform Association, past Director of the John Austin Cheley Foundation, and past Chapter Chairman of the National Speakers Association.
Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow in 1984. A world traveler, he circumnavigated the world six times and visited 127 countries. The City of Lima, Ohio declared June 11, 1983 to be "Ben B. Franklin Day" in the city. He was listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America, and Who's Who in the World. His hobbies included photography and visiting more than 90% of the nearly 400 units of the National Park Service.
Two sisters, Elizabeth Burg of Covington, Louisiana and Margaret Franklin of Moraga, California, survive him, as do three nieces and two nephews.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday,May 18, 2005, at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Franklin will lie in state after 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday and visitation will be from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Austin Cheley Foundation, 601 Steele Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, or to The Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or the hospice of the donor's choice.
A special message for the family may be left online at www.penwellgabel.com.
He was born November 7, 1944 in Topeka, the son of Charles Benjamin and Margaret Barnum Franklin. He was in the first graduating class of Topeka West High School in 1962. Paralyzed in a mountain climbing accident near Boulder, Colorado on April 14, 1963, he earned a B.A. degree in Speech from the University of Colorado in 1967.
He was President of the Associated Clubs, Inc. and Knife and Fork International.
He was a member of the American Alpine Club, Downtown Topeka Rotary Club, Explorers Club of New York, Topeka Sales and Marketing Executives, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and the Topeka Knife and Fork club. He was a past Trustee of The Capper Foundation, past Governor of the International Platform Association, past Director of the John Austin Cheley Foundation, and past Chapter Chairman of the National Speakers Association.
Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow in 1984. A world traveler, he circumnavigated the world six times and visited 127 countries. The City of Lima, Ohio declared June 11, 1983 to be "Ben B. Franklin Day" in the city. He was listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America, and Who's Who in the World. His hobbies included photography and visiting more than 90% of the nearly 400 units of the National Park Service.
Two sisters, Elizabeth Burg of Covington, Louisiana and Margaret Franklin of Moraga, California, survive him, as do three nieces and two nephews.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday,May 18, 2005, at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Franklin will lie in state after 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday and visitation will be from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Austin Cheley Foundation, 601 Steele Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, or to The Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th, Topeka, Kansas 66604, or the hospice of the donor's choice.
A special message for the family may be left online at www.penwellgabel.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Benjamin Franklin, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
6:30am - 7:30 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
Guestbook
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