Ellen Calene Franks' Obituary
Ellen Calene Forsberg Franks passed away at her home in Sun City, California, after a brief illness, with her beloved son Jonathan by her side, on January 4, 2023, at the age of 77. Ellen was born in Redlands, California, on July 7, 1945, the eldest of four children.
She graduated from Redlands High School in 1963, followed by degrees and accreditations from the United Healthcareers Institute, UCLA Extension, UCR and UCSB, and spent her career as an Office Manager as well as an Instructor of Medical Front Office Management, with both Healthcareers Institute and the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program. She received many awards and accolades along the way, earning well-deserved respect from the doctors she worked with, as well
as from her peers and students.
Having met as teenagers, Ellen married the love of her life, Bill, on April 8, 1967, and they raised two sons, Corby and Jonathan, having lived in Highland, until they retired to Sun City. Ellen’s family was her whole world and she cherished her sons, they were the air she breathed.
Throughout her years, Ellen was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Redlands, was a “soccer mom” and enjoyed endless hours of scrapbooking. She was always immaculately dressed, loved beautiful shoes and was known at work and school for her style and fashion sense. Ellen and Bill 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 enjoyed one last Boggs Family Reunion held in July 2022, in San Diego, where Ellen was able to visit with all of her cousins from her mother’s side. Ellen was beautiful, loving, smart and articulate, she had a sharp wit, a joyful spirit and a zest for life, with a contagious laugh, she was always a lot of fun to be around, and to meet her, you would instantly be drawn into her exquisite and unforgettable blue eyes.
Ellen was loved by all of her family and is preceded in death by her eldest son William Corbin Franks,
her parents Rosemary Boggs Forsberg and George Calene Forsberg, and was followed in death eight days later by her husband and soulmate, William Glen “Bill” Franks. She is survived by her youngest son Jonathan Adam Franks, daughter-in-law Christina Rose Franks, and the apples of her eye, her 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. Ellen was so proud of each and every one of them. Ellen also leaves behind her sister Ingrid Forsberg Coopman, her sister Mary Forsberg Boyer, brother-inlaw Charles “Chuck” Boyer, and brother John Eric Forsberg and sister-in-law Catherine “Cathy” Forsberg. Ellen also has many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who adored her.
A joint Visitation and Funeral for Ellen and her husband, Bill, 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 Ellen and Bill 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. This is for you Ellen… “Fore-Bender, Eye-Winker, TomTinker, Nose-Dropper, Mouth-Eater, Chin-Chopper, Gitchy-Gitchy-Goo!
What’s your fondest memory of Ellen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ellen?
Share a story where Ellen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ellen you’ll never forget.
How did Ellen make you smile?