79, of Kingsland, Arkansas died Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Dallas County Medical Center, in Fordyce, Arkansas. Gene was born November 1, 1943, in Kingsland, the eldest son of the late Louis Lamar (Luke) Franklin and Annie (Kathryn) Dykes Franklin.
He received his early education at Kingsland and Laytonville, California, graduating from Kingsland High School in 1961. He was the first member of his family to attend college. In 1965, he graduated from Arkansas A&M College, now the University of Arkansas at Monticello, receiving a Bachelors degree in Education, with a double major in History and Physical Education. While attending college at Monticello, he was a stand-out left-handed baseball pitcher for the Boll Weevils team. He earned All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference honors, in baseball in 1963, 1964, and 1965. His Boll Weevils baseball team were AIC Champions in 1963 and 1965. He was inducted into the University of Arkansas at Monticello Sports Hall of Fame for baseball, in 2012. He was scouted by the Major League Baseball New York Mets team and the Cleveland Indians team.
Before he had the opportunity to play Major League Baseball, Gene volunteered to serve in the United States Army, during the Vietnam Wartime, serving in Munich, Germany. In addition to the U.S. Army, he also served with the Arkansas National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. He served in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and retired from the U.S. military with over 30 years of service.
He earned a Master's degree and Specialist degree in Education from the University of Arkansas. He was just a few hours short of earning a PhD in Education. After his discharge from the U.S. Army, Gene taught/ coached or was a school principal/superintendent at Holly Grove, Woodlawn, Banks, New Edinburg and Kingsland. He proudly served his Lord in the worldwide Gideon ministry, in various state positions, including Arkansas state vice president. He also served in distributing scriptures in the South American country of Chile.
He was a member of Kingsland Missionary Baptist Church, having been in attendance at the first start of the church, as a 6 year old in 1949. He served as deacon of Kingsland Missionary Baptist Church for several decades. He had a special way of connecting with people, so they knew they were important and gave sound and wise advice to those he cared so much about. During the course of his life, he touched many lives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Joe Franklin.
He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Moring Franklin, daughters, Gina Workman, and Mitzi Hollis (Randy) all of Kingsland, grandson, Jordan Sifford and granddaughter Julie Hollis Stacy (Andre) of Kingsland and granddaughters, Bethany Hollis Davis (Carson), of Van Buren and Susana Sifford of Houston, TX, special grandchildren, Libby Grace Workman, of Conway, and Scott Yang (Nina) of China, great-grandchildren, Landry and Sophie Davis of Van Buren and soon to be born great grandson, Braxton Asher Stacy and Luke and Joy Yang of China, sister-inlaw, Linda Smith Franklin of Fordyce, sister-in-law, Carol Moring Oglesby (Tom) of Edmond, OK, Aunt Pat Dykes of Conway and a host of nieces,nephews, family and friends.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 25th from 1:002:00 PM at Kingsland Missionary Baptist Church. Funeral service following at 2:00 PM at the church, with Bro. Rick Bolin officiating. Burial will follow at Kingsland Cemetery with Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce in charge. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingsland Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 31, Kingsland, AR 71652, Kingsland Cemetery, 1270 Hwy. 189 South, Kingsland, AR, 71652 or Gideon's International, Rison Camp, P.O. Box 216, Rison, AR 71665.
