Former Fort mayor dies at 91 (04/23/07)

FORT RECOVERY - Nellie I. Franklin, who served as mayor here through virtually all of the 1960s and 1970s, died Sunday morning in St. Henry, Ohio.

She was 91.

Franklin, a resident of The Gardens of St. Henry, was Fort Recovery's mayor for 19 years (1961 until her resignation on Jan. 7, 1980). She also served as director of the Mercer County Board of Elections for 14 years, and was former president of Mercer County Republican Women.

Born in Fort Recovery on Jan. 15, 1916, to Walter and Grace (Hildbold) Roop, she graduated from Fort Recovery High School in 1934 and attended the School of Cosmetology in Dayton, Ohio.

She was married on Dec. 25, 1941, in Fort Recovery to Derrell Franklin, who died Sept. 11, 2006.

She was owner and operator of Nell's Beauty Shoppe in Fort Recovery for 40 years and attended Fort Recovery United Methodist Church in Fort Recovery.

She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 345; Past Worthy Matron and Grand Representative of Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 111; Fort Recovery Historical Society; and Board of Directors of the Fort Recovery Foundation.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

Services are Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Fort Recovery United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Dungan officiating. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery in Fort Recovery.

Visitation is Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brockman and Boeckman Funeral Home in Fort Recovery and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. An Eastern Star service will be Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to the Nellie Franklin Memorial Fund in care of the Fort Recovery Foundation, Fort Recovery United Methodist Church or the Activities Fund at The Gardens of St. Henry.[[In-content Ad]]