John Robert Franklin

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, CMSGT John R. Franklin, 90 died unexpectedly December 31, 2021, at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. He was born March 10, 1931, in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of Hugh Ellis and May (Jones) Franklin. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for 28 years retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant.

John grew up in Florida and in 1948 entered the Air Force and subsequently lived in Texas, Japan, Mississippi, Arizona Greenland, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Bermuda and Germany, settling in Fort Walton Beach in 1976 and living the remainder of his life here.

He had a very active life and enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, softball, and golfing. After his Military career he was a member of the National Board of Realtors and ran his own business, National Appraisal Services. He was active in the Fort Walton Beach City Council and a member of the Elks Club and the Lions Club. He attained his Master's Degree from Troy State University.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Survived by his wife of 33 years Norma (Engle), his daughter Brenda, and her husband Sam Hopkins and their two children Jessica (Hopkins) Allie and Gibbes Hopkins as well as two great grandchildren. Tanner and Ryker; and his daughter Linda, her husband Roy Numminen and their child Rachel (Tilley), her husband Cody Collard; and three stepsons, Brian, Darren, Lewis and one stepdaughter Theresa.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 7, 2022 from 12:00-1:00 pm and services at McLaughlin Mortuary located at 17 Chestnut Avenue S.E. at 1:00 pm. Burial will be following at Beal Memorial Cemetery with full Military Honors.

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