Franklin Galambos

1944 - 2018

Franklin Samuel Galambos, Berks County Artist; Born May 26, 1944 in Norristown, PA, the first child of Clara (Ott) and Frank ""Ted"" Galambos. His early years were spent in Sprint Mount and Collegeville, PA. He attended Shendoah Valley Academy, New Market VA and graduated from Blue Mountain Academy, Hamburg, PA in 1962. He worked as a commercial artist in Philadelphia until 1967 when he was drafted into the army as a conscientious objector and was assigned to the Psychological Warfare Special Forces, J.F. Kennedy Special War Center, Fort Bragg, NC; the assigned to U.S.A.R.V. Long Binh, Vietnam as a graphic illustrator where he was primarily involved with U.S. Army aviation projects. He was awarded the Army Commendation medal by Commanding General Creighton W. Abrams. He returned home in the fall of 1969 and resumed his career in commercial art, but in 1972 decided to follow his heart's calling as a fine arts artist creating silk screen prints, etchings, and engravings, and pen and ink drawings. He moved to Berks County in 1978 and fell in love with the countryside producing many images of his beloved Fry Rd. Although time has brought many changes to the Oley Valley he felt that his work, a record of our disappearing landscapes, would be his legacy. Having no children of his own he was a foster father to two teenage girls in the 1980's. Although he suffered from serious heart disease he was blessed to die peacefully in his sleep the morning of May 23, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 54 years Leslie (Hartmaier) Galambos, his brother Bruce Paul Galambos of Douglassville, his sister Rebecca (Galambos) Graham of Collegeville and his youngest brother Gary Edward Galambos of Sellersville, PA as well as nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Bradley James Galambos of Leesburg, FL who died in September 2016. As he was a true lover of nature and animals, donations may be made in his name to the Humane Society of Berks County, 1801 11th St., Reading, PA 19604. Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., Laureldale is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.StitzelFamilyFuneralHomes.com