Obituary of Ronald Lawson Franklin

August 21, 1935 - Halifax, Nova Scotia

July 10, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Ronald Franklin, beloved husband of Barbara Franklin (nee Milsom), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, July 10, 2023, at the age of 87 years, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Ron, Barbara, and family moved to Calgary in 1971.  Ron worked in the oil patch for Shaw Pipe for 33 years. He was a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Engineers Reserve. Ron was a long-time member of the Willow Park Golf and Country Club, and he loved golfing with his men’s group. He was a member of McDougall Untied Church and past Chairman of the Church Council  and he was the McDougall representative on Calgary Presbytery. He was the past President and Honorary member of the Alberta Oilmen’s Bonspiel, Carleton Heights Curling Club in Ottawa, and the Nova Scotia Curling Association. Ron was a member of the Governor Generals Curling Club in Ottawa.  He was the Director of Marketing for the 1997 Canadian Men’s Curling Championships in 2005 held in Calgary.  Ron was a Bronze Medalist in the first Canadian Games held in Quebec City in 1967 and was a Canadian Curling Brier participant skipping for Nova Scotia in 1965 in Saskatoon, in 1967 in Ottawa and 1970 in Winnipeg. He was an active curler in Calgary at the Calgary Curling Club, North Hill Curling Club, and the Inglewood Curling Club.

Ron was the son of the late Bertha and Charles Daniel Franklin (Halifax, NS). He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters, Janice Burk (Tim), Nancy Franklin; son Paul Franklin; two grandchildren, Alexandra Burk, Simon Franklin, and sister Grace Kenney; numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law Dan and Betty and brother-in-law, Fred Kenney.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial tributes may be made directly to the McDougall United Church or to the charity of the donor's choice. 

Ron would greatly appreciate if you could make a blood donation in his honour.  Ron was a 75-time blood donor and the recipient of weekly blood transfusions this past year.

Funeral Services will take place at McDougall United Church (8516 Athabasca Street SE, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 2:00 pm.  Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Franklin’s service streamed live on the day of the service at https://www.youtube.com/@mcdougallunitedchurchcalga4407/featured. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Ronald Franklin, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.