Troy Wallace Franklin

Troy Wallace Franklin, 93, passed away peacefully at his home at Chisholm Court in Abilene on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Bailey-Howard Funeral Home Chapel in Clyde with David Peterson officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Clyde Cemetery.

Troy was born in Dallas on August 26, 1932, to Leslie Pope Franklin and Gladys Lane Franklin. He was the third child of 13 children.

Troy had several occupations in his life. He started out as a welder for his father at Franklin Welding in Abilene. He served eight years in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict as a boiler fireman on a ship. He worked at the Gipson Mill in Sweetwater, Texas and then owned a service station in Abilene. He then went to work for ABCO, building boilers, and then was hired by Dyess Air Force Base to work as a boiler fireman. He retired from Dyess after 20 years to help take care of his daughter Beverly after she was run over by a car on her bicycle. He continued to do odd jobs like building carports, being the caretaker at the Clyde Cemetery, and welding until his death.

Troy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosie Jone Searcy Franklin; his daughter, Beverly Ann Franklin Brown; his second wife, Norma Jean Dubois Franklin; five sisters, Laneve and Lovetta Franklin, Gladys Maudine Fleming, Amanda Lavelle Thomas, and Cloretta Lois Massey; and six brothers, Kenneth Pope Franklin, Randolf Harold "Buddy" Franklin, Andy Franklin, Ralph Kent Franklin, Ray Franklin, and Sam Derrell Franklin.

He leaves behind two children, Elaine Franklin Palmer and her husband Philip Palmer, and Curtis Wayne Franklin and his wife Deanna Turnbow Franklin; and six grandchildren, Aubrey Grace Palmer Hilligoss and her husband Alan Hilligoss, Hannah Joy Palmer, Evan Graham Palmer, and Cody Wayne Franklin and his wife Sophia, Danielle Franklin, and Jarod Brown; and three great-grandchildren, Autumn Jane Hilligoss, Vivienne Wren Franklin, and Callen Wayne Franklin; and one sister, Anita McCoy.

Troy loved to work with his hands. He was always trying new things and would use his creativity to build (and improve) things. Some of his creativity included chess sets made on a lathe from aluminum and copper, leather chess boards, Plaster of Paris molds in many different shapes; and to the embarrassment of his wife, a complete sprinkler system made from discarded douches. He loved to garden and always had fruit trees at every home he lived in. He would buy bags of oranges or grapefruits and would call all the neighbor kids to our yard and have a feast in the back yard. When going to visit relatives in San Antonio, he would stop in Fredericksburg for bags of peaches and give them away when we got to the home of our relatives.

He loved to travel and would often tell of the beautiful sights he had seen when in the Navy. One such memory was the reflection of Mount Vesuvius in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. He and Jone also traveled to many places in the United States. One such trip included using his home-made travel trailer. I (Elaine) remember it well because it rained and the water from the roof dripped in my ear. They also came to Mbulu, Tanzania to see their grandchildren. Daddy loved it because he loved to talk, and the Tanzanians were more than willing to do the same.

Daddy loved his children and his grandchildren and always had time to play with them, show them a new hobby, take them to lunch, or just talk and dream. We love you too, Daddy. You're going to have so much fun in heaven. Can't wait to see you there and have you introduce us to all your old and new friends!