Betty Lu Franks, age 90, Joplin, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Communities of Wildwood Ranch, in Joplin.
Betty was born January 28, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, daughter of the late Lawrence D. Wright and Frances Crow Dorn. Betty graduated at age 16 from Granby High School, and throughout the years took classes at Missouri Southern State University. She began her career with Southwestern Bell in 1952 as a switchboard operator, and held several positions with them before retiring in 1982 as a Field Engineer. She was the first woman field engineer in the Midwest for Southwestern Bell.
Betty was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America while working with Southwestern Bell. She attended the Christian Women's Club luncheons, the Preachers and Teachers conference at Ozark Christian College, and served as a preacher's wife at Diamond Grove Christian Church, Racine Christian Church, and Oak Grove Christian Church. She was currently a member of Christ Church of Oronogo.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Cleveland Franks, who passed away October 1, 2012.
Survivors include a son, Rick Franks and wife Jill of Jasper, Missouri; daughters, Luann Benefiel and husband Jason, and Pam McCormick and husband Bruce all of Loveland, Colorado; granddaughters, Janet Judd and husband Brian of Jasper, Karen Weston of Joplin, Ivy Benefiel of Loveland, Layla Benefiel of Loveland; grandsons, Adam DeGraff and wife Genevieve of Queens, New York, Matthew DeGraff and wife Monica of Golden, Colorado, and Jeremy DeGraff of Golden; nine great-grandchildren; several step grand and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 18,. 2017 at 9:30 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Kenny Ansley and Pastor Mark Christian officiating Interment will follow in Granby Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to H.E.L.P. International.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parker Mortuary, Joplin, MO.
Betty was born January 28, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, daughter of the late Lawrence D. Wright and Frances Crow Dorn. Betty graduated at age 16 from Granby High School, and throughout the years took classes at Missouri Southern State University. She began her career with Southwestern Bell in 1952 as a switchboard operator, and held several positions with them before retiring in 1982 as a Field Engineer. She was the first woman field engineer in the Midwest for Southwestern Bell.
Betty was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America while working with Southwestern Bell. She attended the Christian Women's Club luncheons, the Preachers and Teachers conference at Ozark Christian College, and served as a preacher's wife at Diamond Grove Christian Church, Racine Christian Church, and Oak Grove Christian Church. She was currently a member of Christ Church of Oronogo.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Cleveland Franks, who passed away October 1, 2012.
Survivors include a son, Rick Franks and wife Jill of Jasper, Missouri; daughters, Luann Benefiel and husband Jason, and Pam McCormick and husband Bruce all of Loveland, Colorado; granddaughters, Janet Judd and husband Brian of Jasper, Karen Weston of Joplin, Ivy Benefiel of Loveland, Layla Benefiel of Loveland; grandsons, Adam DeGraff and wife Genevieve of Queens, New York, Matthew DeGraff and wife Monica of Golden, Colorado, and Jeremy DeGraff of Golden; nine great-grandchildren; several step grand and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 18,. 2017 at 9:30 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Kenny Ansley and Pastor Mark Christian officiating Interment will follow in Granby Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to H.E.L.P. International.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parker Mortuary, Joplin, MO.
Betty Lu Franks, age 90, Joplin, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Communities of Wildwood Ranch, in Joplin.
Betty was born January 28, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, daughter of the late Lawrence D. Wright and Frances Crow Dorn. Betty graduated at age 16 from Granby High School, and throughout the years took classes at Missouri Southern State University. She began her career with Southwestern Bell in 1952 as a switchboard operator, and held several positions with them before retiring in 1982 as a Field Engineer. She was the first woman field engineer in the Midwest for Southwestern Bell.
Betty was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America while working with Southwestern Bell. She attended the Christian Women's Club luncheons, the Preachers and Teachers conference at Ozark Christian College, and served as a preacher's wife at Diamond Grove Christian Church, Racine Christian Church, and Oak Grove Christian Church. She was currently a member of Christ Church of Oronogo.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Cleveland Franks, who passed away October 1, 2012.
Survivors include a son, Rick Franks and wife Jill of Jasper, Missouri; daughters, Luann Benefiel and husband Jason, and Pam McCormick and husband Bruce all of Loveland, Colorado; granddaughters, Janet Judd and husband Brian of Jasper, Karen Weston of Joplin, Ivy Benefiel of Loveland, Layla Benefiel of Loveland; grandsons, Adam DeGraff and wife Genevieve of Queens, New York, Matthew DeGraff and wife Monica of Golden, Colorado, and Jeremy DeGraff of Golden; nine great-grandchildren; several step grand and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 18,. 2017 at 9:30 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Kenny Ansley and Pastor Mark Christian officiating Interment will follow in Granby Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to H.E.L.P. International.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parker Mortuary, Joplin, MO.
Betty was born January 28, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas, daughter of the late Lawrence D. Wright and Frances Crow Dorn. Betty graduated at age 16 from Granby High School, and throughout the years took classes at Missouri Southern State University. She began her career with Southwestern Bell in 1952 as a switchboard operator, and held several positions with them before retiring in 1982 as a Field Engineer. She was the first woman field engineer in the Midwest for Southwestern Bell.
Betty was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America while working with Southwestern Bell. She attended the Christian Women's Club luncheons, the Preachers and Teachers conference at Ozark Christian College, and served as a preacher's wife at Diamond Grove Christian Church, Racine Christian Church, and Oak Grove Christian Church. She was currently a member of Christ Church of Oronogo.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Grover Cleveland Franks, who passed away October 1, 2012.
Survivors include a son, Rick Franks and wife Jill of Jasper, Missouri; daughters, Luann Benefiel and husband Jason, and Pam McCormick and husband Bruce all of Loveland, Colorado; granddaughters, Janet Judd and husband Brian of Jasper, Karen Weston of Joplin, Ivy Benefiel of Loveland, Layla Benefiel of Loveland; grandsons, Adam DeGraff and wife Genevieve of Queens, New York, Matthew DeGraff and wife Monica of Golden, Colorado, and Jeremy DeGraff of Golden; nine great-grandchildren; several step grand and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 18,. 2017 at 9:30 a.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Kenny Ansley and Pastor Mark Christian officiating Interment will follow in Granby Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to H.E.L.P. International.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Parker Mortuary, Joplin, MO.
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