Obituary of Mary Ives Franklin

~~Mary “Molly” Ives Franklin, 91, of DeLancey, passed away on Sunday morning, May 7, 2017 surrounded by all four of her children. Born April 9, 1926, Molly, the eldest daughter of Ralph and Dorothy (Jones) Foutz of Tiffin, Ohio, graduated from Heidelberg College in 1948, where she studied speech and drama, and acted in numerous plays. At Heidelberg she met her beloved husband, James W. Franklin, a returning WWII Navy veteran. Jim passed away February 2, 1999.

Molly was a passionate reader who deeply cared about education and giving children every opportunity to succeed in life. After raising her family she returned to college to earn a Masters in Library Science from SUNY Albany in 1970. She began her career as librarian for the Putnam Valley Public Library, later becoming a public education librarian for schools throughout the Putnam-Northern Westchester School Districts, including Putnam Valley Free School, Garrison Union Free School, later moving to the Mahopac Central School District, and retiring from Katona-Lewisboro School District in Cross River, NY.

Molly and Jim moved to DeLancey in 1991. They built their dream home here with gardens and a pond overlooking the beautiful valley and hills. Molly loved this area, and she loved activities with her friends and family, especially cooking, gardening, and quilting. With her Delhi and DeLancey friends she made many quilts for friends and family, taught others to quilt, and donated many beautiful quilts to families served by Delaware Opportunities. Every summer Molly and her extended family would vacation at a small wilderness cabin in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada, a home her parents had purchased after the war. 

Molly and Jim joined DeLancey United Presbyterian Church because they were welcome and thought they were needed there. Both of them were faithful in supporting the church and its members, and the support was reciprocated. Mrs. Franklin remained an active member of the church and women’s bible study, the Delaware County Senior Council and several local quilting guilds; was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was good-humored, generous, open to new ideas, had an inquiring mind, and cared deeply about people, justice, and world affairs. She loved her home and the life she lived right to the very end.

She is survived by her children: Linda Sue Franklin (husband Fred Dodsworth) of Berkeley, CA, John Michael Franklin (wife Jane) of Kingston, James William Franklin (wife Patty) of Pepperell, MA, and Eve Ellen Franklin of Richmond, CA; her grandchildren: Kendra, Asa, and Colin Dodsworth; Daniel, Catherine and Margaret Franklin; Brian, Scott, and Kyle Franklin; eight great-grandchildren; sisters: Helen Clarissa Elchert of O’Fallon, IL and Jean Hofmann of Edwardsville, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A celebration of life was held at 2PM on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the DeLancey Presbyterian Church, DeLancey, NY.

Contributions in memory of Molly may be made to  the Delhi Cannon Free Library.

Please visit www.hallandpeet.com to share a condolence with Molly’s family.