Bill Glen Franks' Obituary
William Glen “Bill” Franks, passed away at St. Bernardine’s Hospital in San Bernardino, California, after a brief illness, with his beloved son Jonathan by his side, on January 12, 2023, at the age of 79 – twenty-four days shy of his 80th birthday.
Bill was born in San Bernardino, California, on February 5, 1943, the middle of three children. He graduated from Pacific High School in 1962, started his career with Gate City Beverage, then went into the family business, managing V&E Liquors in Highland, California. After a life-long passion starting with the automobile culture that exploded in the 1950’s, and harking back to his days in The Krankers Car Club at Pacific High, Bill decided to shift gears and put his creativity and talents to work, and opened his own business. His company, Bill Frank’s Auto & Body Repair, flourished over the years, where Bill’s vision extended into complete restorations of classic automobiles – Bill’s reputation and works of art became known the area over and his expertise came into demand.
His partner and support system throughout all of this, having met as teenagers, Bill married the love of his life, Ellen, on April 8, 1967, and they raised two sons, Corby and Jonathan, having lived in Highland, California, until they retired to Sun City. Bill’s family was his whole world - he introduced his sons to his fondness for cars, taking the boys to “car shows” and “car runs” all over Southern California. Having inherited his artistic aptitude from his mother, Bill’s imaginative skills spilled over into his home life, where he would design and build anything one could imagine, often renovating and adding on to the family house. Bill and Ellen loved to travel, having traversed most of the country in their RV, visiting family and friends along the way, they were life-long members of the Family Motor Coach Association. They also savored their times spent in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Bill’s family originated from. Bill and Ellen enjoyed one last great outing, attending Bill’s 60th High School Reunion in September 2022, having had a wonderful time.
Bill was handsome and smart, charming and witty, and had the most envious locks of thick, long, luxurious hair, desirous of any man and woman alike – in all of his days, he neither lost his hairline nor a single strand of hair.
He was loved by all of his family and was preceded in death eight days earlier by his wife and soulmate, Ellen Forsberg Franks. Bill is also preceded by his eldest son William Corbin Franks, and his parents Virgil and Evelyn M. Franks, and survived by his youngest son Jonathan Adam Franks, daughter-in-law Christina Rose Franks, and his adored grandchildren, Hannah Marie Franks and Hailey Renee Franks – Corby’s children, and Gage Alexander Franks (the oldest grandchild), Luke Thomas Franks and Piper Leigh Franks – Jonathan’s children. Bill was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. Bill also leaves behind his sister Virginia Franks Tull, her husband Larry Tull, his niece Karin Neary Colunga and her husband Scott Colunga, with their children Harrison and Chase Colunga, as well as an older sister, Barbara Franks, and lifelong friends.
A joint Visitation and Funeral for Bill and his wife, Ellen, is scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2023, commencing with the Visitation from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, the Chapel Service to be held immediately after from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, both at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel, 1299 E. Highland Avenue, in San Bernardino, with a Graveside Service and Interment to directly follow at 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm, at Mt. View Cemetery, 570 E. Highland Avenue, also in San Bernardino, where Bill and Ellen will be laid to rest alongside each other. Feel free to share your expression of sympathy here online, or you can mail a message of condolence to The Franks Family, c/o Bobbitt Memorial Chapel, 1299 E. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92404
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