Funeral services for Diane Franklin, 60 of Brownwood will be held at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church at 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturday July 14th. The internment will follow at Jenkins Springs Cemetery under the direction of Davis Morris Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening.
Diane passed away on Tuesday, July 10th surrounded by friends and family at her home in Brownwood.
Diane was born on February 27th, 1952 in Berkley, California to Eddie Ruth and Bill Swindler. Being the daughter of a Baptist pastor, she moved frequently throughout her childhood, and graduated high school in San Antonio. In 1977, she graduated from Howard Payne University with a degree in English.
She was married to the love of her life and soul mate Fred Franklin in 1977, and had two sons, Taylor Franklin and Austin Franklin. She loved watching her boys grow up and cheering for them at their sporting events. She found great joy in seeing them both marry in recent years.
Diane was a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. She has maintained a close-knit group of friends throughout her life and her friends would agree she was the life of any party. She had a knack for story-telling and a wonderful sense of humor. She truly saw the good in everyone and in every situation.
After being a stay at home mother to her boys, she began her teaching career with Brownwood Independent School District. Since 1995 she taught English, English as a Second Language, and Psychology at Brownwood High School. She enjoyed being the BHS cheerleading sponsor for many years, and cherished the relationships she built with the girls she coached.
Diane is survived by her sons, Taylor Franklin and wife Jessica of Naples, Italy, and Austin Franklin, his wife Whitney and their son Jack Frederick Franklin of Lubbock; her father, Bill Swindler and wife Wanda; her brother Michael Swindler of Brownwood; and sister Teresa Judge and husband Clark Judge of Austin; numerous nieces and nephews including her niece Cassie Freese who is a member of the Army and is currently stationed in Korea.
Diane was preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Fred Franklin and her mother, Eddie Ruth Swindler.
The family requests that memorials be made to Howard Payne University, The Masonic Lodge of Brownwood #279, or The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) at 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004.
Condolences can be offered to the family at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com.