Norman K. Franklin Sr.

\
Norman King Franklin, Sr., 72, of Nortonville died peacefully surrounded by his family at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville on the afternoon of September 5, 2012. \ \ Mr. Franklin was born to the late Beulah and Clarence Franklin on February 20, 1940, in Hopkins County, Kentucky. He married the former Joyce Faye Barnett on November 15, 1962. Mr. Franklin served as Sergeant First Class in the United States Army with four foreign tours of duty including active combat in Vietnam. At the conclusion of Mr. Franklin's military service, he and his wife returned to Nortonville where they owned and operated Franklin's Supermarket. Mr. Franklin also was a retired coal miner of 24 years. \ \ He attended the First Church of God in Madisonville. A Kentucky Colonel, Mr. Franklin was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending summers with family and friends on Lake Barkley. He was known for his outstanding character and terrific sense of humor, witty storytelling skills, the ability to fix anything, and a love for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the St. Louis Cardinals and his wife's holiday cooking. His greatest joy was time spent with family, especially as Poppi to his beloved grandchildren. \ \ Mr. Franklin was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Walton Dale Franklin, Aretta Jean Whitfield, Charles Wayne Franklin and Phyllis Ann Franklin. \ \ He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly fifty years, Joyce Faye Franklin; his loving children, Joannie (Charles) King of Tupelo, Mississippi, Norman 'Frank' (Jill) Franklin, Jr. of Nortonville, and Susan (Joshua) Denton of Franklin, Tennessee; grandchildren, Norman 'Trey' III, Travis and Morgan Franklin, Madison, Charlie, Mary Elizabeth and Cooper King, and John Denton; a brother, Mervel Franklin of Fairview Heights, Illinois; and a host of extended family and friends. \ \ Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 9, at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Bourland and Rev. Robert White officiating. Burial with full military rites will follow in Good Hope Cemetery, Mannington. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, and from noon until the service on Sunday. \ \ Pallbearers will be Eddie Tyson, Jed Tyson, Norman 'Trey' Franklin III, Travis Franklin, William Barnett III and Michael Barnett. Honorary pallbearers will be William Barnett, Jr. and Junior Butler. \ \ Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Wounded Warrior Project. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. \ \