Matthew Earl Franklin, Sr.
January 22, 1930 - September 22, 2021

OAK GROVE, LA - Funeral services for Matthew Earl Franklin, Sr., age 91 of Oak Grove, Louisiana, will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Kilbourne Baptist Church in Kilbourne, Louisiana.

Reverend Bernard Duchesne will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Kilbourne Cemetery in Kilbourne, Louisiana.

Services are under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Oak Grove.

A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, September 24, 20021 at Cox Funeral Home, 200 East Noble Street in Oak Grove, Louisiana.

Mr. Franklin passed into eternal life on Tuesday, September 22, 2021 at Oak Woods Rehab & Wellness in Mer Rouge, Louisiana.

Mr. Franklin was retired from the U. S. Air Force and served as a U. S. Marine before joining the Air Force. He was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was a member of Catron-Kelly Post 53 of the American Legion. After retiring from the service, he worked as a carpenter, helping build many homes in West Carroll Parish. He was a member of the Kilbourne Baptist Church in Kilbourne, Louisiana.

He is preceded in death by his dad and mom who raised him, Glover and Jessie Franklin; his mother, Beulah Franklin; brother, Malcolm James; sister, Gayle James; sister, Leola James; and brother, T. J. James.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Kathleen Frances (McDowell) Franklin of Oak Grove, Louisiana; daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Earl Cowden of Oak Grove, Louisiana; son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Donna Franklin of Bastrop, Louisiana; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Denise Franklin of Pineville, Louisiana; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Kandice Franklin of Monroe, Louisiana; 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; brother, Buddy James of Columbia, Louisiana; brother, Wayne James of Monroe, Louisiana; brother, Huey Bayles of Monroe, Louisiana; sister, Tina Robehmed of Jena, Louisiana; and sister, Jackie Hatten of Chatham, Louisiana.

Pallbearers are grandsons.

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