William Leon ‘Bill’ Franklin

Published 5:45 pm Saturday, December 8, 2018

Bowling Green – William Leon “Bill” Franklin was born on April 27, 1940, and passed away on December 6, 2018. He was the son of the late H.C. (Doc) and Geneva Franklin. Bill grew up in Lewisburg, Kentucky, milking and showing dairy cows for the family farm, Meishan Acres, with twin brother, Bob. He was awarded the American Farmer’s Degree – the highest award from Future Farmers of America. He graduated from Lewisburg High School and went on to earn a B.S, M.A.E., and Rank 1 from WKU, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He also did doctoral work at Vanderbilt University. Bill was a life-long educator, with 32 years in the Warren County Schools, 29 of which he served as principal at Warren Elementary School. Upon retirement, Bill served as interim principal at 6 different schools, and spent the summers working at Jackson’s Orchard. He enjoyed being with family and friends – the Liar’s Club for Saturday breakfast, the Walking Group for morning coffee at McDonald’s, Friday lunch group, and meetings at El Mazatlan. He loved sports – he coached Little League baseball and softball teams and regularly attended UK, WKU, U of L, and Tennessee Titans games. He was a member of the Lady Hilltoppers sixth man team, the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation and a former host for the Girls High School Sweet Sixteen Basketball Tournament. He loved a good story – to hear them and to tell them. He was a member of State Street Methodist Church, KEA, KHSAA, and KASA. He served on boards of the Jaycees, Indian Hills Country Club, Riverview at Hobson Grove and BGMU, and was the only 2-term president of the board at BGMU, ever. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth, daughter Heather, twin brother Dr. Robert Franklin (Sandy) and sister Ann Coker (Robert). He was preceded in death by Mary and Michael Franklin. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, State Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, and the Warren County Humane Society in memory of Bill Franklin.

Visitation is at J.C.Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel Sunday from 2-7 pm and Monday 10 am – 12 pm at State Street United Methodist Church prior to the service at noon.