Dennie Green

1936 - 2023

Dennie (Franks) Green
February 4, 1936 - June 17, 2023
Fair Oaks, California - Dennie D. Franks was born to Ava Lou and Thomas O. Franks and lived in Turlock, CA. Years later, Dennie's mother would marry William Green, move Dennie to his new home in Sacramento, and legally change Dennie's surname to Green.
Dennie attended Washington Elementary, Sutter Middle School and Sacramento High School, graduating in December, 1954. He was an accomplished musician (playing clarinet) and was Drum Major of the band.
After high school Dennie cultivated his passion for music at Sacramento State College. Dennie was Drum Major for the Marching Band for all four of his undergraduate years. During his senior year he would meet and fall in love with another clarinet player in the band, Ruby (Bunny) Scott of Folsom. Dennie would graduate in 1957 with his Bachelor's degree in Music Education, and Master's degree in 1960, also in Music Education. After graduating in 1957 Dennie started service in the Air Force Reserves as a motor pool mechanic.
In 1959, Dennie and Bunny were married, and Dennie would start his 35 year career teaching music to thousands of students in the Center Joint Union School District. He taught band, orchestra, and choir, and later becoming the Computer Lab teacher. Dennie's career grew with the school district. He taught at several schools, started the band program at the new Center High School, and finished his career teaching band at the new middle school.
Dennie retired in 1995. He and Bunny spent their retirement years having swashbuckling adventures aboard their boat ("Allegro Con Brio") in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay, or touring the U.S. and Baja California in their 5th wheel trailer ("The Whale"). Dennie also had time to research his genealogy, a complicated task that started with scant information. Years of diligence would ultimately lead to the discovery of three half-siblings, an abundance of living aunts, uncles and cousins (and all of their families), ancestral records dating back many generations, and their headstones. Dennie's crowning achievement would be to learn the story of his father, his childhood and early adult life, service in the U.S. Marine Corps, and later life in Washington state.
Dennie and Bunny also had a long-cultivated commitment to God and their Christian faith. Dennie was always choir directing or singing in the churches where he was a member. Dennie had a long affiliation with Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks. During retirement and after discovering the availability of music scoring software, Dennie reasserted his passion for music composition and arranging. He established the church orchestra and served for many years as the Conductor and Music Director.
Dennie spent the last four-1/2 years living with Bunny at Sunrise Senior Living in Fair Oaks. The last 18 months Dennie faced cancer with courage, determination to look after his wife, and reaffirm the strength of his faith.
Dennie and Bunny were married for 63 years. Dennie is survived by his ever-adoring wife, Bunny, their two sons Dennis and Scott, their wives Megan and Jenny, and grandkids Brandon, Austin, Adam, and Emily.
A service for Dennie will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Parkinson's Foundation.