Thomas F. Franklin

Thomas F. Franklin, 87, formerly of Littleton died at Emeritus at Meadow Lodge in North Chelmsford on August 15. 2013. He was born in Harrisburg, PA on March 12, 1926, a grandson of a slave, to Frank and Alice (Young) Franklin. He grew up in Harrisburg, PA in his early years and his family moved to Roxbury, MA in 1938 where he attended the Sherwin School and Brandeis Vocational School where he was trained to weld at the Hingham Shipyard. Tom was married to the late Florence Harris on October 2, 1944 and was drafted into the Army on October 30 1944. He was stationed at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, San Bernardino., California Army Air Force Base and Victorville, California Air Force Base, before being discharged in 1946.
Mr. Franklin was employed as a welder for Manning, Maxwell, & Moore in Watertown and later as a heli-arc welder at National Research Corp, in Needham. He later enrolled in night courses and Northeastern University and then day courses at UMass Boston. While at UMass, he worked as a Campus Personnel Officer from 1970-1972. He earned a Master's Degree in Education from Harvard University in 1974 and worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission until his retirement in 1989.
Tom had made his home in Littleton since 1972 and following his retirement was occupied with dancing, volunteer projects, gardening, cooking and writing his personal history.
Mr. Franklin is survived by his daughters Karla Bergstrom of Rutland, MA and Elisa Franklin of Holliston, MA. , his grandchildren Sherry Davis of Hampton, VA, Nichole Bergstrom of Rutland MA and Craig Miller of Holliston, MA a great granddaughter, his loving friend Doris Cambray of Nashua, NH and several nieces and nephews. He is also predeceased by his by his brothers, James Frank and William and his sister Dorothy.
Private services will be held at a later date, contributions may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen. St. Framingham, MA 01701. Please see www.badgerfuneral.com