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Paul Richard Franke, Jr. passed away Monday, January 25, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM. He was born in Mancos, CO to Paul R. and Elizabeth P. Franke and grew up in Mesa Verde National Park. He served as a bomber pilot in WWII and spent time in the Air Force Reserves. After graduation with a degree in Civil Engineering from Colorado University, he married Lois Elizabeth Gerber in 1948. He worked as an engineer on the Colorado-Big Thompson Trans Mountain Water Diversion project. He, Lois and baby daughter, Candace, then moved to Santa Fe where he worked briefly with the National Park Service before going to work at Los Alamos National Laboratories. A daughter, Emily, and also son Paul R. Franke, III were born in Santa Fe. At Los Alamos he worked on the Meson Physics Facility and the Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy Program. After retiring, he and Lois traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East. He was a recognized master dry fly fisherman and a recognized amateur archaeologist working on digs with the renowned archaeologists Earl Morris and Charlie Steen. He also volunteered for the Friends of the College of Santa Fe Library. He was a long time member of Holy Faith Episcopal Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ruth Trevathan. Paul is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois; daughter, Candace Gillis and husband, John, daughter, Emily Laskowski and husband, Jack; son, Paul R. Franke III and wife, Cindy; two granddaughters, Abbey and Maddie Franke; brother-in-law, Earl Trevathan, sister, Mareli Elizabeth Eckberg and husband, Myron; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held Monday, February 1, 2010, 10:00 a.m., at Holy Faith Episcopal Church, 311 East Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request in honor of Paul Richard Franke, Jr. that memorial contributions go to the Mesa Verde Foundation, P.O. Box Denver, CO 80211. Please visit our online guestbook for Paul at RememberTheirStory.com French 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
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