Richard John Franklin

Richard John Franklin passed away at Salisbury VA on March 22, 2026, at the age of 75.

He was born on August 25, 1950, in Remington County South Dakota to the late Mary Jo Gallagher and Lloyd Vance Franklin.

Richard graduated from Auburn University. He served as a Captain for 17 ½ years in the United States Air Force in various places, including in Thailand, Korea, and Greenland. He continued working for local governments and had a desire to help people. Richard loved his family and always had a joke.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his nephew Chad Powell.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife Shirley Tomlin Franklin, his son Eric Franklin (Kim), Eric’s children Natalie and Lucas Franklin, and Eric’s mother Cathy Griffin; his sister Barbara Huffman and her son Mark Huffman; his sister Jane Powell and her daughter Nikki Williams (Daniel) and Nikki’s children Bryson and Garrett Williams; his brother Joe Franklin (Jill) and Joe’s children Mallory and William Franklin; his son Todd Padgett, Todd’s children Brandon Taylor, and Colby Padgett, and Todd’s grandchildren Hadley and Kolsen; his daughter Suzanne Eckhardt and her children Sydney, Allison, and Sean; and his daughter Erin Keller and her children Madelynn and Andrea.

A service will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday April 24, 2026, at the Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Blvd, Salisbury, NC 28144. Military Honors will be provided by the Lyerly Volunteer Join Services Honor Guard.

Lyerly Funeral Home serves the Franklin family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

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