Howard Franks

Howard Franks, age 101, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, August 12, 2014. His daughter and a nephew were with him.

Howard was born at home on May 9, 1913, in Mobeetie, Texas, to Chester Dare and Nola Agness (Bratton) Franks.

In June of 1937, he married Hazel Marie Holladay of Ira, Texas. They were married for 33 years before her death in1970. He then moved back to Snyder, where he met and married Thelma Parks, also deceased.

Howard was a cotton farmer when he and Hazel married . Soon they moved to Houston where he went to work for the Borden Ice Cream Company.

Howard was serving in the National Guard when World War II began. He was honorably discharged from the Army in November of 1945. He was a Master Sergeant in the Quartermaster Corps, providing troops and supplies to the front lines in Normandy, Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge, and many more in the European Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

During this time, Hazel was living back in Ira, and gave birth to a daughter, Judith Marie. Howard had wanted a boy, but was soon won over by his blue-eyed, blonde-haired daughter.

After the war, Howard moved his family to Houston, where he resumed a 33-year career with Borden Ice Cream Company. His daughter remembers that he always came home from work smelling like vanilla.

Howard was a faithful, Godly man. He was a member of the 37th Street Church of Christ for many years, and served as an Elder. He worshipped at the Georgetown Church of Christ after he moved to Georgetown, Texas, to be near his daughter.

He is survived by his daughter, Judy Dargis of Georgetown, her husband Tom, and a granddaughter, Sonya Chappelear, of Roanoke, Virginia. He also leaves several special nieces and nephews, and a host of cherished friends.

Funeral services will be held at the 37th Street Church of Christ on August 27 at 10 AM, followed by burial at the Ira Cemetery. Visitation to be held Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Family ask that memorial contributions be made to the 37th Street Church of Christ , or to the Georgetown Church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas.