MCCORD, Franklin O. 1926-2008

MCCORD, ELLEFSON, COLE, MINNIS, KANE, CARPENTER, PRIESTLEY

Posted By: Jeff Phillips (email)
Date: 3/31/2008 at 23:34:17

Franklin O. McCord
February 19, 1926-March 23, 2008

IOWA FALLS—Franklin O. McCord, 82, of Iowa Falls, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2008, at the Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Iowa Falls, with the Rev. Mary Stonebraker officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date. The Linn’s Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Franklin Otto McCord was born Feb. 19, 1926, on his parents' farm in Franklin County, Iowa, the son of Mabel Helene (Ellefson) and Franklin Everett McCord. He attended Maple Grove Country School, graduated from Iowa Falls High School (class of 1943) and attended Ellsworth College. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. He graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in 1951 and a master’s in 1952. On July 29, 1951, Franklin was united in marriage to Catherine Newland Cole at the First Congregational Church, Iowa Falls. To this union three children were born: Margaret, David and Elizabeth. Franklin embarked with his family on a career as a Foreign Service officer in the United States Department, including service in Europe, Canada and Asia. At one point, as principal officer in Fiji, he was responsible for American interest in over 4 million square miles of the South Pacific, stretching from New Caledonia to Tahiti.

In 1978, Franklin retired from the Foreign Service and returned to Iowa Falls to begin another career of community involvement. He started River Bend Rally and brought several businesses to town as the manager of the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development Corporation, receiving the Iowa Falls Community Service Award in 1983. As a founding member and officer of the Iowa Falls Historical Society, Franklin brought numerous visitors to town by organizing the purchase and restoration of Dow House, the Illinois Central Depot and Mills Tower.

Franklin was a member of Iowa Falls Hyman-Peavey American Legion Post #188, the Iowa Falls Lions Club (president 1984-85), the Iowa Falls Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1674 and the Iowa Falls Arcturus Lodge #100 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (chaplain). Franklin also served as chairman of the Ellsworth College Centennial Committee from 1988-90 and received the Iowa Falls Community Service Award in 1983.

Franklin is survived by his wife Catherine McCord of Iowa Falls; his children, Margaret Rose (Phillip McCarty) McCord of San Antonio, Texas; David Cole (Elizabeth) McCord of Ellicott City, Md.; Elizabeth Carol (Patrick) Carpenter of Boone, Iowa; three grandchildren, Joseph Cole McCord and Elizabeth Clare McCord of Ellicott City, and Laura Rose Carpenter of Boone; one sister, Constance Priestley of Sacramento, Calif.; and one brother, Robert (Lillian) McCord of Iowa Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin E. and Mabel McCord; a granddaughter, Patricia Margaret McCord; and two sisters, Allene Minnis and Ruby Kane. Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Falls Historical Society, P.O. Box 364, Iowa Falls, IA 50126.