James’ Obituary James William Franklin was born to James Julian “Mutt” Franklin and Sylvia Imogene (Dodson) Franklin on January 3, 1951, in the Pool Hospital at Lindsay, OK. He entered into his final rest on February 21, 2019, in Norman, OK. James was raised in Lindsay and Fairview, OK, graduating from Lindsay with the class of ’70 and ’71.
He worked on the drilling rigs until the oil bust, and then acquired his license to become a long haul truck driver. He traveled those long stretches of road for 17 years. He then worked for Washita Flow Testers until his health began to fail from kidney failure.
He never complained about his health struggles or pain, keeping a positive outlook while dealing with being a double amputee and declining vision. He loved to witness for the Lord and many people heard, “Where do you go to church? ” as a conversation opening.
He was also a ham radio operator and would speak to many over the radio about the Lord. When Carolyn started to go out with James, people told her that he was weird because he always carried his Bible, even to restaurants. Undeterred, she told them that she wanted someone that loved the Lord.
Not all of their religious beliefs were the same, but they both knew that there are no denominations in Heaven. James experienced Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Messianic faiths. Carolyn often joked with James that he had his religious bases covered; the most important being a Christian.
James even maintained phone conversations with former truckers he met and lead to the Lord until his death. James married Carolyn (Cooper) Malena on August 8, 2008… eights symbolizing new beginnings. James had two sons from his first marriage, and a son and daughter “in-love” after his marriage to Carolyn.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife; children: Johnathon of Kentucky, Adam of Red Bluff, CA, Christopher Malena of Pensacola, FL, Kandace Malena and bonus daughter Liz Steger of Lewisville, TX; grandchildren: Carley of Red Bluff, and “birthday buddy” Russell Malena of Pensacola; in-laws: Don George of Wilson, OK; Gary and Debra Cooper of Haslet, TX; Danna and Mark Hutchinson of Lindsay; nieces and nephews: Britt George and wife Joy, Aimee Newman and husband Robert, Amber Zenor and husband Rick, Cash Cooper, Stacy Brown and husband Rudy, Cathryn Clark and husband Kent, Mike White and wife Angi, Jennifer LeGrande, Natalie Brodnax and husband Brian; many great nieces and nephews; Aunts and Uncle: Doy Franklin, Angelo Dahl, Ray Dodson, Jim England and wife Barbara, Shirley England; and many cousins he liked to reune. Those that preceded him in death were his parents, sister Shirley George, and in-laws Roy and Leora Cooper (who James referred to as “Mom”). The family will be receiving friends and guests to reminisce the life of James on Sunday, February 25, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. at the Boydston-Wilbourn Funeral Home Chapel.
A Memorial Service to honor the life of James is set to begin at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, February 25, 2019 at the First Assembly of God Church located on HWY 19 West in Lindsay, Oklahoma. He will be laid to rest at a later date at the Green Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Scott and Angel Wilbourn of Boydston-Wilbourn Funeral Home in Lindsay, Oklahoma.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.
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