Obituary: Franklin, Clark

FRANKLIN,
Clark
“The Schwinn Man”

Our greatly loved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, surrounded by his family, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
Clark was born in 1920 and spent most of his childhood on his grand-parent’s farm in Iowa.

He married Jackie in 1942.

During World War II, he served in the Navy as a radar operator.

After the war, Clark was the Chief Engineer of a radio station in North Dakota.

Later, while employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad, he was transferred to Spokane where in 1958 he purchased Midway Cycle in the Spokane Valley.

He and Jackie had two children, Christy and Brian.

Clark was privileged to sell bicycles to several generations of families in the Spokane area.

Midway Cyclery became truly a family business as Brian joined him.

Clark was always willing to lend his time and knowledge to bicycle races as well as children’s bicycle safety events.

Through Midway Cyclery Clark touched many lives and his legacy will continue through them.

He became known affectionately as “The Schwinn Man”.
After Jackie’s death, he married Anne, the mother of five daughters, in 1979.

Anne was an enthusiastic supporter of Midway Cyclery and their family.

After Clark’s retirement, they continued to support our community through volunteering with Upward Basketball and cycling events.
Clark was preceded in death by Jackie in 1974 and Anne in 2009.

Clark is survived by children Christy (Norm) Moss, Brian (Jackie) Franklin, Deanna (Roger) Sherman, Leslie (Rick) Hansen, Carole (Bruce) Saxton-Deane, Janet Saxton, and Julia (Jeff) Simmons; grandchildren Troy (Liliya) Moss, Eric Moss and fiancée Kim Piller, Korissa Fitterer and fiancé Jeff McGlocklin, Sean Deane and fiancée Danyel Dehn, Melissa (Blake) Becker, Brandon VanSickle, Nichole VanSickle, Kyle Hansen, Jason and Nicholas Franklin; and great-grandchildren Darrell VanSickle and Anya Moss.
A memorial service will be held at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N Raymond Road, Spokane Valley, WA on Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:30 AM.

Memorial contributions may be made to Spokane Valley United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Spokane.
Community Cremation Service Spokane Valley
13127 E. Sprague, Spokane Valley, WA 99216 509-926-2020
On-line guest book: www.CommunityCremationService.com