Frederick Joseph Franco

1941 - 2011

Frederick Joseph Franco of Hanford California passed away Thursday Nov 24, 2011, at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno California, after a very courageous attempt to recover from his second open heart surgery.
Born in Atwood, Colorado in January 24, 1941, he was a long time resident of Minatare Nebraska and was raised by his father and later his two older sisters. He graduated from Malbeta High School in 1959 and met his high school sweetheart and soul mate, Mary Magallanes.
Fred joined the US Air Force and served with distinction for 4 years active Military achieving the rank of Airman First Class (A1C) and two years with Air Force Reserve until 1966. Returning to Scottsbluff, NE he obtained a degree from Nebraska Western College in 1970 and graduated with Honors from Chadron State College with a BS Degree in Education in 1971.
He started a career in Law Enforcement in Nebraska as a Sergeant for Scottsbluff Police Dept., Parole Officer and Deputy Sherriff for Scottsbluff County. He then worked for the California Department of Corrections for 16 years, retiring as a Program Administrator in 1989. He was instrumental in opening California State Prison Corcoran.
Fred learned early on in his life the value of family and throughout his life, his family was the most important. He loved his wife Mary, children and grandchildren with everything that he was. Fred enjoyed traveling, golfing, fishing, coaching his children's youth sports and Hanford's Thursday Night Downtown Market. He was an advid fan of Nebraska Football and enjoyed attending numerous games with his son Freddie. He was his daughter's biggest fan faithfully supporting and attending all her athletic events through college. Fred and Mary continued showing their love for children by running Franco Child Care (FCC)/Preschool out of their own home for 13 years.
He was proceeded in death by his parents Palicarpio "Paul" and Eulalia Franco; sister Amelia Cruz; brothers Joe "Shorty" Franco, Jesse Franco and Antonio Franco.
He leaves his wife, best friend and soul mate of 46 years, Mary Elodia (Magallanes) Franco of Hanford, California; his son Frederick Joseph Franco II and daughter-in-law Danielle (Mendes) Franco of Hanford California; his daughter Anna Marie (Franco) Stroh and son-in-law John Stroh of Frisco, Texas; his granddaughters Hannah, Kennedy, Haley and Kelsey Stroh of Frisco, Texas; his sister Victoria (Franco) Maestas and brother-in-law Bennie of Las Cruces, New Mexico; brothers Albert Franco and sister-in-law Candi of Sioux City Iowa; Jim Franco and sister-in-law Esther of Sacramento, California; and Camillo Franco of Sacramento, California and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at St. Brigid Catholic Church followed by the Recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 2, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. followed by Interment at Hanford Cemetery in Hanford California. All are welcome at a Reception immediately following to help celebrate Fred's life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Frederick Franco Memorial Fund through the American Heart Association, PO Box 60000, San Francisco California 94160 or by going to http:\\honor.american heart.org. Click on "Memorials & Tributes" and search for Frederick Franco.