Russell Bennett Franklin, Sr., 65, of Old Court House Rd., Appomattox, died Sunday, September 14, 2008 in Lynchburg General Hospital. He was the husband of Dale Harris Franklin.
Born in Farmville, September 23, 1942, he was a son of the late Fredrick Courtney and Margie Franklin Franklin. Russell was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, a home delivery driver for 40 years for the Appomattox Oil Company and served for 25 years on the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department.
In addition to his wife he is survived by a son, Russell B. Franklin, Jr., presently stationed in Iraq, and his wife Khrysti of Red House; two daughters, Brenda Lee and Joey Mason of Concord and Donna and Chris Sams of Spout Spring; eight grandchildren, J.R. and Courtney Mason, Gunnar Nelson, Harleigh and Bennett Franklin, Kayla, Madison, and Skylar Sams; a sister, Virginia Franklin of Appomattox; a special "brother" and sister-in-law, E.G. and Wanda Harris of Forest; and his mother-in-law, Frances H. Walker of Lynchburg.
Graveside funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery by the Rev. Ronnie Rogers and the Rev. Jerry Childress.
The family will receive friends at Robinson Funeral Home today (Thursday) from 7-8:30 pm and other times at the home of his daughter, Donna and Chris Sams, Little Bear Lane, Spout Spring.