In honor of Richard Bloom and the crew members USS Franklin CV13

By Carol Ann Bloom

And again the seaman’s whistle is blown
Beckoning mates of the USS Franklin home.

On deck they stand, vigilant and proud with smiles on their faces
To welcome their shipmates with salutes and embraces.

Night skies of pink and a calm tranquil sea
Will be their course together for all eternity.

Russel E. “Bucket” Cole, 88, of Harmony Township, NJ passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at the Lopatcong Center in Lopatcong Township, NJ. Russel was born in Still Valley, Pohatcong Township, NJ on August 1, 1926 to the late Edgar and Addie Rush Shoemaker Cole. Russel was a self-employed Dairy Farmer for 25 years, retiring in 1976. He was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School, Class of 1944. Russel served in the US Navy on the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin CV13, which was known as the ship that will not die, “Big Ben”. Russel enjoyed traveling the country for his ship’s reunions. Russel was a member of Stewartsville Presbyterian Church in Stewartsville, NJ. He was also a member of the American Legion Mecsey-Bishop Post #456 of Stewartsville, NJ; VFW Post #6701 of Washington, NJ; the Stewartsville Grange #121; Sunny Seniors of Phillipsburg; the Stewartsville Area Seniors; The Museum Association USS Franklin CV13;and the Pohatcong Valley Semi-Wild Club. Russel is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Paff Cole; daughters, Donna Diehl and her husband, Larry of Phillipsburg, NJ and Debra Cole of Phillipsburg, NJ; a sister Ethel Bischoff of VA; grandchildren Chelsey and Jesse Diehl; a great-grandson; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Sarah Crouse; and half-brothers, Harry, Donald and Heston Shoemaker. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 3, 2015 at 10am at the Rupell Funeral Home, LLC; 465 Memorial Pkwy; Phillipsburg, NJ 08865. A visitation of family and friends will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 6pm to 8pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in Stewartsville (Presbyterian) Cemetery; Stewartsville, NJ. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made to Stewartsville Presbyterian Church; 550 N. Main Street; Stewartsville, NJ 08886. Online condolences may be submitted at http://www.rupellfuneralhome.com. – See more at: http://obits.lehighvalleylive.com/obituaries/etpa/obituary.aspx?n=russel-e-cole-bucket&pid=175178281&fhid=21870&eid=sp_ommatch&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.DNfANALe.dpuf

Robert A. Gray, 92, passed away Friday, June 19, 2015, at his home in Lakewood, Colo. Robert was born March 2, 1923, in Kansas City, Kan., to George and Adis Gray. He was a graduate of Wyandotte High School. Bob was a Veteran of WWII serving in the United States Navy. He was a member of Bomber Squadron VB 13 aboard the USS Franklin. He married Betty Jean (Ashmore) on June 14, 1941, in New Orleans, La., who preceded him in death after 68 years of marriage on Feb. 10, 2010. He was in the automotive industry most of his adult working life, retiring as an Auto Service manager for Dick Smith Ford in 1977. Bob was an avid aviation enthusiast, having obtained his pilot’s license at age 22, flying until he was 76 years old. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen. In addition to aviation, he was involved in midget car racing in the Kansas City area in the 1950’s. He was a member of Victory Hills Baptist Church. He is survived by his daughter, Jeanne and her husband, Jay Dewey of Lakeood, Colo. In addition, he leaves two granddaughters, Kristen (Jeff) Sanders of Edmond, Okla., and Nicole (Pat) Dolezal of Wray, Colo. He is also survived by five great grandchildren, Tyler, Bryce and Sydney Sanders of Edmond, and Jessica and Jaden Mast of Wray. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 26, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 North 94th St., Kansas City, KS 66112. Condolences at: http://www.porterfuneralhome.com Arr.: Porter Funeral Homes & Crematory, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, Kan., (913) 438-6444. Porter Funeral Homes and Crematory
Published in Kansas City Star on June 24, 2015
– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=robert-a-gray&pid=175144870&fhid=4645&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.8q6hoWpo.dpuf

AMOS. Alfred E. Amos, 93, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Hospice in Stockbridge, GA. He was the beloved husband of the late Shirley E. (Miller) Amos for 47 years and the late Ruth (Young) Amos for 21 years, Ruth passed January 27, 2015. Al was born February 18, 1922 in Hartford, the son of the late William A. and Alma (Vorhaven) Amos. He served his country during WWII on the USS Franklin and also in the Korean War. Upon returning from the service he worked for Underwood Typewriter then Remington Typewriter in their design departments. He was a longtime Masonic member. He leaves his son, William H. Amos of Locust Grove, GA; a daughter, Cheryl Morgan and her husband Michael of Windsor; a son Alfred Amos, Jr. of Groton; three grandsons; one granddaughter-in-law; three granddaughters; one grandson-in-law; four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Howard V. Amos; a daughter-in-law, Toni Amos. His family will receive friends Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 10-11 AM at Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807Bloomfield Ave., Windsor with a Masonic Service at 10:45 AM followed by a memorial service at 11 AM at the funeral home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Roberts Presbyterian Church, 2716 Highway 187 South, Anderson, SC 29626.

Published in The Hartford Courant on May 31, 2015 – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=alfred-amos&pid=174971135&fhid=4097&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.6lZrW6A0.dpuf

Robert Stiffler Waddington
age 89, of New Philadelphia died Thursday, May 21, 2015 in Union Hospital at Dover. A son of the late William E. and Erma (Stiffler) Waddington, Bob was born in the family home at New Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 1925. He attended New Philadelphia High School until his Junior Year when his family relocated to Washington D.C. and became a 1943 graduate of Roosevelt Senior High School. Following graduation, Bob entered into the United Marine Corps and proudly served aboard the USS Franklin during World War II. In March 1945, Bob was on board ship at the time The Franklin was bombed and 800 Marines and Sailors lost their lives. An ever proud Marine, Bob enjoyed being a part of the Marine Corps League and loved traveling to their various functions throughout the United States. Professionally, Bob worked for the United States Postal Service for 34 years having served in the D.C, Dayton and Williamsburg, Pennsylvania offices. Following his retirement, he began traveling to Yellowstone National Park, where for 14 summers he enjoyed working in one of the stores near the Old Faithful Geyser. Bob was a member of the Goshen Community Nazarene Church and also found joy in reading and watching television.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann whom he married on July 7, 2007; his children, Glenn (Gwen) Waddington, Sandra (Peter) Waldren all of Shelter Island, N.Y., Katrina (Robert) Pennell of Raleigh, N.C., Ward (Cathy) Waddington of Williamsburg, Pa.; his grandchildren, Morgan, who is currently serving in the USMC, Christopher, Alexandra, Rachel, Eddie, Trisha, Jacob, Amyjo and Arianne as well as numerous great-grandchildren. Completing the family are his step-children, Mary (James) Davis of Apple Creek, and Sherry (fiancé, Rodney Lohr) Depinet of Mansfield; step-grandchildren, Nicole, Amanda, Morgan and Matthew and four step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne Waddington and his daughter, Kris LaFerney.
The family will greet guests one hour prior to services on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 from 1-2 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Pastor Lee Randolph will lead a service celebrating Bob’s life at 2 p.m. in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia. Memorial contributions in Bob’s memory may be directed to Goshen Community Church of the Nazarene, 2501 Davis Road SE, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.
Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and light a candle in remembrance of Bob by visiting the funeral home’s website at www.GeibCares.com – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesreporter/obituary.aspx?n=robert-stiffler-waddington&pid=174924619&fhid=22449&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.PuBZFCOC.dpuf

Shelmerdine –Billy Lee Jones, 88, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2015 at his home. A graveside service will be conducted Monday at 2pm in Mack Smith Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the cemetery where there will also be a viewing.
Billy, born July 28, 1926 to the late Roy and Mayme Jones in Bomarton, TX, was raised in Keystone, OK. He joined the US Navy during World War II, serving on the USS Franklin, also known as “Big Ben,” in the Pacific Theater. He moved to North Carolina in 1948 and met and married Reba Haddock on November 10, 1948. He worked as a farmer and a butcher before becoming a carpenter, working for Daniels Construction and Eastern Omni before retiring in 1991. He loved to hunt, fish, watch baseball and basketball games with his grandsons, and gardening, but spending time with his family always came first.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Reba Haddock Jones; son, Billy Wayne Jones; grandson, Brian Gray; sister, Lily Jones; father and mother-in-law, Spencer and Mertie Haddock; and in-laws, Amyle Peterman, Joyce Jones, George Meigs, Wilbur and Gracie Haddock, Lyman and Lucille Haddock, Jessie Haddock, Estelle Ham, and Roy Lee Fillingame.
Billy is survived by his children, JoAnn Jones Gray and husband, William of Independence, LA and Randy Jones and wife, Joy Cannon Jones; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Jones Williams and husband, Ernie, all of Shelmerdine; grandchildren, Tonya Cabaniss and husband, Jeff, Justin and William Gray, Roxanna Ford, Alan Jones and wife, Jennifer, Casey, Jason, Michael, and Cody Jones; great grandchildren, Joseph Puckett, Brianna, Edith, Mary, and Jacob Gray, Rachel and Jesse Ford, and Zachary and Matthew Jones; brother, Ray Jones and wife, Betty; sisters, Wanda Peterman and Shirley Bunyard; sisters-in-law, Rena Mae Haddock and Betty Jo Fillingame; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.