Hubert Franks

Hubert D. Franks, 83, of Galva, died Friday, October 26, 2012, at Waynesville Life Care Center in Waynesville, MO after suffering a seizure while enjoying the Fall colors near his fishing cabin in southern Missouri. He had been battling cancer with the help of the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for 18 years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 31st, at the Galva Chapel of Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services. Rev. Ann Champion will officiate. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo, with military honors at the graveside. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Masonic Services at 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society

Hubert was born May 3, 1929 in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Harvey W. and Bernice M. Selner Franks. He attended 16 different schools as he followed his father’s career during the depression. Huber graduated from Galva High School, one of three he had attended and went to Western Illinois University for a year then on to the University of Iowa in Iowa City. When the Korean War started he and friends volunteered to go to the Air Force. Because he had been in ROTC and the National Guard, they kept him at Lackland AFB for four years doing various duties that included teaching Atomic, Biological Warfare, and War Gasses.

His marriage to George Sharron Roberts took place on June 5, 1953 in Seguin, Texas. They have a son, Justin, who is a teacher of Special Education in Chicago. That means that Hubert taught, his mother and father both taught, and his wife and son taught. After leaving the service, he returned with his family to Galva, where he worked as a ticket agent for the Burlington Railroad in Kewanee. After a few months, he joined the John H. Best & Sons, Inc. family as a Cost Accountant where he remained for 36 years, retiring as General Manager and CEO.

Hubert was always active, servicing the community through his church, the city (worked the sky watch for storms), and he became the City ESDA manager. His memberships include the Galva Lodge No. 243, A.F. & A.M., where he was a past Master and a 58 year member, the Mohammed Shrine, Peoria, the Scottish Rites Temple in Moline, the Galva Order of the Eastern Star, where he served as Worth Patron, the Hagberg-Hamlin American Legion Post No. 45, Galva (56 year member), and the N.R.A. He also belonged to the Galva Camera Club, the Little John Conservation Club, the Photographic Society of America, Central Illinois Camber Clubs, and the Photocrafters Club of Illinois

He won national recognition for his photography, winning many awards. He was published in numerous magazines, as well as the San Francisco Herald Examiner Sunday Supplement for his photographs of Monument Valley. Hubert was awarded a Gold Medal for one of those shots. He also won national contest for the State of Wisconsin and was published in their state magazine as well as many others. He continued traveling, fly fishing, and doing photography for the web pages, and personal enjoyment spending much time in Missouri very near a trout stream.

Those surviving are his wife, George Sharron, Galva, and a son, Justin Franks, Chicago. His parents and an infant brother preceded him in death.