Franklin Murphy Caldwell
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Franklin Murphy Caldwell of Lake Wales passed away, having Gone West, Monday, December 6, 2021 at his residence.
He was born May 5, 1940 in Vernon, Texas to the late Frederick and Elsie Caldwell; he moved to Lake Wales from Draper, Virginia 11 years ago. He was a retired Lieutenant Colonel for the United States Army who served in Korea and Vietnam where he earned two bronze stars. After serving in the Army, Franklin worked with graduate students in the electrical engineering lab of Virginia Tech University in Radford, Virginia. Aviation was a large part of his life, he was a member of the Quiet Birdmen and the Experimental Aviation Association. He enjoyed refurbishing aircrafts and was licensed to certify them safe to fly. He was also an avid Ham radio operator.
Franklin was preceded in death by his sister, Laverne Romanik; and great-grandchild, Archer Biglin. He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Caldwell Folk (Scott) of Saint Joseph, Missouri, and Mariellen Stepp (Kevin) of Lake Wales; son, Sye Caldwell (Bryttaine) of Coalinga, California; brother, Morris Caldwell of Somis, California; grandchildren, Shanon Biglin, Leigha Stepp, and Stefan Caldwell Folk; and great-grandchildren, Aden Biglin, and Connor Biglin.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his honor can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (phassociation.org).