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William Alfred Franklin (Bill) passed away peacefully on August 27, 2012 at the Christine Morrison Hospice, Mission, BC at the age of 92. He lost his life to esophageal cancer. Born on September 29, 1919 in Oxford, England, he will be sorely missed by sisters Mary

Humphreys and Ruth May, both of Oxford, and brother Leonard Franklin, Victoria, BC. Bill is survived and will be forever cherished by his beloved

partner of 31 years, Phyllis Hamberg (Weatherby); his daughter Rosalind (Robert) Plumtree (Kobley/Franklin), Abbotsford; son Ian Franklin (Suzanne Edmondson), London, ON; and son

David Franklin, Kelowna. He’ll also be missed by step-daughter Linda (Hans) Bodden (MacDonald/Hamberg), step-sons Lance Hamberg, and Darren (Joanne) Hamberg, all of Abbotsford; and

step-daughter Karla Hamberg, Woodbridge, ON. He’ll be fondly remembered by his grandchildren: Deborah

Kobley, Toronto; Catherine (Nigel) Berke (Kobley), Cranbrook; Wayne Kobley, Penticton; Clare Franklin, Calgary; Erin Franklin, Peachland; Andrew Franklin, and Michael Franklin, both of Kelowna. He will be sadly missed by his great-grandchildren:

James Kobley; Ryker and Ladnar Berke; and Taylor, Julia, Mykenna, and Madeline Mossop. Bill will be mourned by nieces Margaret Green (Humphreys),

Oxford, Eng; Denise Beauchamp (Franklin), 150 Mile House; and

nephew Eric Franklin, Victoria, and their families. He will be remembered by his step-grandchildren: Heather

Brosseau, Megan Steenhusin, Ryan MacDonald, and their families, Ashleigh and Nicholas Hamberg; all of Abbotsford, BC; and Francesca and Sophia Lanza, Woodbridge, ON.

Bill’s large extended family will miss him dearly, including brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim (Pat) Weatherby, Arden Weatherby, Pat (Wayne) Rinke, all of Aldergrove; Leila (Keith)

Sim, Abbotsford; and Herb (Norma) Weatherby, Williams Lake. He’ll be missed also, by the extended families of Rosalind Plumtree and Linda Bodden.

Bill served with the RAF during World War II, and was a Japanese POW. He emigrated in 1948, settling in Victoria, BC. Bill loved Canada and eventually made his career in the lumber

industry. When promoted to lumber inspector for the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau, he worked out of Toronto. Bill returned to BC in 1973, settling in Aldergrove. He was active in

the Aldergrove United Church, Langley Garden Club, Aldergrove Agricultural Society, Aldergrove Veterans and Seniors Society, and the Aldergrove Heritage Society. He published his memoirs in a book, “Through Adversity to Attainment”, Trafford Publishing.

For the past eight years, his home was in Abbotsford. A memorial service will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion,

Aldergrove Branch #265, 26607 Fraser Hwy. on Sun., Sept. 9, 2012 at 1:30 PM. A reception will follow in the hall. Funeral arrangements are by First Memorial Funeral Services of

Aldergrove, 604-857-0111. Bill’s family wish to thank all the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who took such loving care of Bill, especially his family

doctor, David Froese. In Bill’s memory, donations may be made to The Christine Morrison Hospice, 7324 Hurd St., Mission, BC, www.FVHCF.org; The Java FEPOW Club 1942 (Far East Prisoners

of War) www.thejavafepowclub42.org; or the Royal Canadian Legion, Aldergrove Branch #265 (address as above).



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