Obituary of Charles M. Franklin

Woodhull, NY | Charles M. Franklin, 64, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 very suddenly in Mansfield, PA. Charles retired from the U.S. Navy as a Commander in 1996 after serving most of his naval career as a public relations officer. He subsequently worked as a public relations consultant at the State Department in Washington D.C. and manager of corporate public relations for the Society of Automotive Engineers near Pittsburgh, PA. He then spent several years in various positions in the Burlington, VT area before moving back to the Woodhull, NY area in 2004. Although he never pursued a career in teaching, Charles received a B.S. degree in Music Education in 1973 from The King's College, then located in Briarcliff Manor, NY and now at the Empire State Building in New York City. While in the Navy, he received a Master of Arts degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Oklahoma in 1985. He was inducted as a member of Kappa Tau Alpha for outstanding academic achievements while studying there. During his career in the Navy, Charles served two years as the public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team. He also worked for two years in Puerto Rico on the personal staff of the admiral in charge of the U.S. Naval Forces Caribbean and later in Stuttgart, Germany for over three years on the public affairs staff of the U.S. European Command. His final four years in the Navy were spent working at the Pentagon for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Also while he was in the Navy, Charles was selected for inclusion in the 1989 Outstanding Young Men of America program which recognizes the achievements of young men who, by their contributions to community and profession, shape the future of our nation. During his stint at the State Department, Charles served as a public affairs advisor to the ambassador in charge of a train and equip program for reconfigured military forces in Bosnia following the tragic war there in the mid-1990s. He traveled extensively with the ambassador to Bosnia and throughout Europe and other foreign locations in support of the program. Charles spent the last several years living on the Franklin Family Farm on Norway Ridge in Woodhull, NY. He lived and grew up there as a child and young man after his parents bought the farm in 1951. During that time he attended Addison Central School, from which he graduated in 1968. Charles enjoyed taking care of his horses, as well as establishing and maintaining a personal weather station on Norway Ridge which provided information to an internet web site called the Weather Underground. He was predeceased by his parents, Lawrence and Lois Franklin of Woodhull, NY in 2004. Survivors include two sons, Christian (Rosamaria) Franklin and Joshua Franklin, both of South Burlington, VT, his sister and brother in law, Vivian and Jim Tidrick of Nelson, PA, his grandchildren, Victoria, Serena, Amber and Cody, his nephew, Eric (Jennifer) Ahearn and great niece, Zavannah, all of Couer D'Alene, Idaho and several aunts, uncles and cousins. At his request, there will be no calling hours or funeral. Burial will be in Bath National Cemetery with military honors and a brief graveside service. �� Service: Private Graveside Service Bath National Cemetery Bath, NY��