Rosa Jean Anderson Franklin, 86, went to be with her Lord on March 18, 2011, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Born June 12, 1925, in San Antonio, to the late David and Rosa Anderson, she graduated from Edgewood High School in 1942. Joining the war effort, she worked at San Antonio's Kelly AFB in the Air Service Command Advance Training Office and the Secretary Pool at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Jean married her high school Sweetheart, Jack Woodrow Franklin on Nov. 28, 1944, at Travis Park United Methodist Church in San Antonio, during his furlough from Marine activity in Guadalcanal. They also had Marine assignments at Naval Air Stations in Vera Beach, Fla. and Kingsville, Texas, before settling in San Antonio to raise their family.

She used her natural organizational skills as a librarian's aide at John Marshall High School in San Antonio, at Victoria High School, at Randolph Field ISD in San Antonio, and at the Devine Municipal Library; Secretary to the Superintendent of Kerrville ISD; librarian at the Texas AI Agricultural Center in Weslaco and at Devine Junior High School; and as recording clerk at the Medina Community Hospital. She attended Victoria College, acing two courses, and spent her pastime quilting, for family and as gifts, 35 various sizes in all. For several years she assisted her son, Russell Franklin, at Franklin Pipe Organs, both in Victoria and then in Inez.

Supporting her husband's call to ministry in 1954 with the United Methodist Church, she was active in United Methodist Women and teaching Sunday school classes. These included St. Mark's UMC and most recently, the Travis Gross Class of First UMC of Victoria. She greeted all with a smile and gracious warmth, never judging by outward appearance or social status, always witnessing to her strong faith in Christ and His forgiving love for all.

She was preceded in death by: parents; three brothers, Alvin, Finis, and Ray; four sisters, Louise Thrasher, Hilda Miceli, Alice Wright, and Dorothy Garza; and grandson, Nathan Verret.

Rosa Jean donated her body to the research team of UT Health Science Center at Houston Medical School in Houston to aid in finding a cure for this unpleasant fatal disease. A "Gathering" to honor and celebrate Jean's life will be held Saturday, April 30, from 2-5 p.m., at The Crossing, 404 North Bridge Street, across from First UMC of Victoria.

Published by the Victoria Advocate, March 20, 2011.