Shirley Ann Williams Franklin

Shirley Ann Williams Franklin, of The Willows of Marshalltown, and formerly of Tama, passed away on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 after a short illness.

Shirley was born on December 15, 1928, in Columbus, Ohio, to Mervin Williams and Marie Stahl Williams. After spending her childhood there, she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, with her parents and sister, where she graduated from high school. She married her childhood sweetheart, Ralph Franklin, and returned to Ohio with him, where they went to college and started their family. After residing in Ohio, Michigan and Texas, Shirley settled in Tama, Iowa, with Ralph and their family. After receiving her teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa, she taught and loved teaching for many years. She was especially proud of the work of her students writing a bill to help preserve native prairie remnants, and was able to take her class to the Iowa State House to witness the governor signing it into law.

Shirley and Ralph retired to St. Petersburg, Florida, where they loved gardening, cooking, woodworking and traveling together for many years. They were also both active volunteers with the Seacoast Bird Sanctuary and Hospice. Shirley loved writing poetry and was proud of some of her work being published in Lyrical Iowa. After Ralph passed away in 1999, Shirley returned to Tama where she enjoyed Iowa Football games, dancing, singing in her church choir, playing cards, book club and going to Old Creamery Theater performances with friends. She was a longtime volunteer with the Tama County Foster Care Review Board and Meals on Wheels. She was a member of the Tama Methodist Church, Tama P.E.O. Chapter, Tama County Farm Bureau Choir and the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.

She is survived by her daughter Susan Anderson (Dan), of Tama, Iowa, daughter Robin Franklin (Mark Gosink), of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, son Robert Franklin (Fania), of Eureka, California; grandchildren: Melisa Kriegel (Jerry), Daniel Anderson (Brooke), Jim Anderson (Amy), Ahnaray Bizjak (Tim), Taylor Franklin (Manny), Laurel Franklin (Spencer), Elyse Franklin (Zack), Brian Gosink, Kevin Franklin, Rose Blackwell (Chris), Isaiah Franklin; great grandchildren: Hope, Blake, Audrey, Alleigh, Luke, Dalton, Addison, Haylie, Lillie, Kylie, Rosen, Indigo, Mackenzie, Zack, Tristen and Brayden; Great-Great grandchild, Kai; many dear nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Ralph and her son Andrew, her parents, her sisters, Patricia Williams and Milva London, and three nephews.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

A very special thank you from the family is extended to the caregivers at The Willows of Marshalltown and St. Croix Hospice (Ankeny, Iowa).

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Croix Hospice (Ankeny, Iowa) and Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo, is assisting the family with arrangements.