Kathleen Franks
Feb. 10, 1933 – Aug. 4, 2025
Kathleen Franks, 92, died Aug. 4, 2025, following a fall.
She was born Feb. 10, 1933, in Westwood, Calif., the second of three daughters born to Arthur and Chyloe Hunter.
She attended high school in Central Point, Oregon and started dating Ted during her junior year.
They married during Thanksgiving weekend following her graduation. (Her sister, Nancy, was going to be home from college for the holiday and Kathleen said, “It never occurred to me that she’d have come home at a different time just for a wedding.”)
Ted and Kathy (as she was known at the time) settled in the Rogue Valley to raise their daughters. Ted loved fishing and hunting so Kathleen learned to fly fish and was able to bag her own deer.
They did day trips,camped on the weekends, and loved the outdoors. A few years ago someone stole her first set of antlers out of their garage and she died still being angry about that!
Other “together hobbies” were square dancing, ballroom dancing, pinochle, playing the slots, and bowling. They loved going to state and national bowling tournaments. Family time was a big deal and if three or more people were sitting, there better be a deck ofcards or a game being played.
Kathleen worked in printing for about 20 years. She started at the Central Point American, working for her in-laws. Later she set type at the Ashland Daily Tidings for five years and then continued typesetting at the Medford Mail Tribune for 14 years until her retirement in 1980.
She retired when her first grandchild was born. She was so excited to be a grandma and spent a lot of time giving each grandchild a special week (or more) with Papa Ted and her.
She spent all year planning special adventures and scheduling around community events like the Britt Children’s Festival.
After Ted retired in 1995, Kathleen and Ted moved to Sweet Home to be closer to family, but a place with good fishing and access to Blazer games. They made a whole new group of friends and enjoyed their retirement.
In 2021, they sold their home in Sweet Home and moved to Keizer. After 18 months at Emerald Pointe, they found their places at Avamere.
Since Ted was in assisted living, it was the first time Kathleen had ever lived on her own. She spent her days reading, watching tennis, doing jigsaw puzzles, and joining her friends for bingo and Bunco. She was able to visit Ted every day and they talked frequently on the phone.
Kathleen is survived by her husband of almost 75 years, Ted Franks; two daughters, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; one sister; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
No services will be held per Kathleen’s request.