Doris Ritchie Franklin, 79, of Bingham, ME, died November 5. 2012, at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, OK, following a sudden illness. Mrs. Franklin was married for 51 years to Paul R. Franklin, who predeceased her in 2007.
Mrs. Franklin was born in Monmouth, Maine, on August 31, 1933, and was the fifth of eight children born to the late Charles and Fern Ritchie. She was a graduate of Bingham's Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High School, class of 1951, and furthered her education as a Music major at Boston University.
Doris was an accomplished person who enjoyed many pursuits. She was a talented seamstress who tailored numerous items for her daughters and granddaughters through the years. Doris also spent many hours creating outstanding needleworks which were admired and prized by lucky recipients. She was an avid reader, sharing a penchant for Stephen King novels with several family members.
Doris was known for her compassion, empathy, and sweet gestures, which drew other people to her. What brought her the most joy were her two daughters, her beloved grandchildren, and her many friends. In recent years, she reconnected with a college friend, Dick Ekdahl, and together they enjoyed travel, dinner dates, and the symphony and opera with a circle of friends in Tulsa, OK.
Doris is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, four grandchildren, a sister, two brothers, a close cousin, sisters-in-law, a dear friend, and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. (Names omitted for privacy.)
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Old South United Methodist Church, 6 Salem St., Reading, Mass. Calling hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Doherty-Barile Funeral Home, 11 Linden St., Reading. Burial is private. For information and directions, please visit barilefuneral.com.
Published in Central Maine on Nov. 8, 2012