Dennis S. Franks, formerly of Toledo, OH, died Tuesday, May 5, 2015 in Evergreen Hospice Center in Kirkland, WA, surrounded by his brothers and other family members. He was the third son of Al & Virginia Franks, born May 22, 1951 in Toledo. Denny attended Harvard Grade School and graduated from Bowsher High School in 1969 where he played on the JV football team. Following graduation, he served his country in the Viet Nam War while stationed at Cam Rahn Bay with the US Army’s 518th Tiger Patrol. He was honorably discharged in 1975 after two tours of duty.
Denny then moved to the Seattle area, working for the FAA for 26 years and retiring in 2010. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA degree and then earned his commercial pilot’s license from Green River Community College, where he was named 1996 “Pilot of the Year”. He was a member of the Civil Air Corps Green River Composite Squadron conducting search and rescue missions throughout the Pacific Northwest, including a summer in Skagway, AK. While in Seattle, he met his future wife, Eileen Gretchen Hegeman, and they were married in 1986.
Denny is survived by his wife Gretchen; brothers, Gary (Lori) of Perrysburg, OH and Neal (Yena) of Fallbrook, CA; nieces Kristin (Steve) Phillipps of Perrysburg, OH and Renee Franks of Castle Rock, CO; nephews Gary (Kelley) Franks of Oxford, OH, Eric (Leslie) Franks of Castle Rock, CO, Andre and Aaron Franks of Toledo, David Hegeman of Old Chatham, NY, Jacob Hegeman of Washington DC; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Carol Hegeman of Valatie, NY; and beloved dog, Sophie. He was preceded in death by his parents and oldest brother, Dave.
As Denny requested, there will be no formal services. His body will be cremated and the ashes scattered in his garden and at his favorite places in the San Juan Islands and Columbia River Basin.
The family requests that any tributes or memorials be in the form of a contribution to Bellevue Lake Hills Community Gardens (c/o Peggy Smith, 850 NW 70th St., Seattle, WA 98117), Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation (400 Mercer St. – Ste. 502, Seattle, WA 98109), or Evergreen Hospice (12822 124th Ln NE, Kirkland, WA 98034).