Franklin Gerfen
Franklin Gerfen, 95, of Prospect, died Friday, March 14, 2008 at Alterra Sterling House of Marion. He was born August 1, 1912 in Richland Twp. to the late Louis Charles and Clara (Klingel) Gerfen.
He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prospect, Prospect Senior Citizens and had been superintendant of Prospect Cemetery for 10 years. He was a farmer all of his life and was a former director of Federal Land Bank for 8 years. He was an avid basketball fan, especially of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
On October 24, 1937 he married Dorothy Benzler and she died September 27, 2001 after 64 years of marriage.
He is survived by a son, Darrell Franklin (Janet) Gerfen, Prospect; two grandsons, Steven (Kim) Gerfen, Marion; David (Deb) Gerfen, Prospect; a granddaughter, Lorri (Mark) Hoffman, Prospect, 6 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Darrell E. Gerfen, 2 sisters and 2 brothers.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prospect with Rev. Russell Makant officiating. Burial will follow in Prospect Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 PM on Monday at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Prospect. Pallbearers will be Steve Gerfen, David Gerfen Mark Hoffman, Tyler Kaufman, John Watkins and Robert Barkley; honorary pallbearers will be Clay Gerfen and Nole Gerfen.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 200 E. Water St., Prospect, OH 43342 or Heartland Hospice, 685 Delaware Ave., Suite 200, Marion, OH 43302.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballingerfuneralhome.com.
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home