PRESCOTT – Barbara Elaine Franklin (Knight) passed away on August 21 in Prescott, Arizona. She died surrounded by her husband and three children after a hard fought, month long battle with pneumonia. She was a brilliant and kind woman who dedicated her life to her family. She met the man she loved in college and they spent the next 50 years building a life together.
She was an astronomer, a physicist, an economist, a teacher, and a lifelong learner. She was open minded, accepting, curious, loved politics and her Ojibwe heritage, and she could talk about anything. One of the highlights of her life was teaching. Not only did she teach her university students, but she taught everyone around her. She had a unique way of making complicated topics simple so that everyone could learn from her. She impacted so many throughout her life, which was evidenced by the outpouring of support and prayers during her hospital stay. She was very proud of her status as ‘Mimi’ and loved her seven grandchildren very much.
Barbara grew up in Hubbard, Ohio where she met Anita, her best friend of 54 years. She attended The Ohio State University where she met Jeff, her husband. Barb and Jeff moved to Cave Creek, a town north of Phoenix, shortly after graduating, where they raised their family. In Cave Creek, they met Frank and Carol, their best friends for 40 years. Barb and Jeff retired in Prescott, Arizona.
Barbara is survived by her husband Jeff, her children Courtney, Chris, and Anny, and her grandchildren Ainsley, Declan, Dahlia, Daire, Reid, Graham, and Kamryn. She is also survived by her siblings Paul, Karen, and Pat.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Barbara’s name to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ at https://lowell.edu/support/donate-now/.Please note in the comment section ‘In memory of Barbara Franklin’ and all gifts in her memory will be attributed to the Native American Astronomy Outreach Program (NAAOP).
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Homes.
Please log on to www.ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Barb’s guestbook and share a memory with the family.
