02/25/2026
Clarence Christian Franck, Jr (Larry)
April 18, 1932 - February 18, 2026
Larry was the proud son of Clarence C. Franck, Sr and Dorothy Berger Franck. He grew up in Swarthmore, PA with one younger brother, George Martin Franck, with whom he shared a life-long friendship.
Larry’s formative years included frequent visits with extended family in Baltimore and projects with his father and brother designing and finishing the basement with an extensive O-gauge Lionel model train display with mountains and tunnels, and building a shuffleboard court in their backyard. Larry played trumpet in the Swarthmore High School Marching Band and Orchestra. A life-long love of boats and life on the water began on the Chesapeake Bay after WW II in 1945. The family spent 4-day summer weekends on the Bohemia and North East Rivers on their 30’ wooden cabin cruiser named LAMAR (for LArry and MARty).
He graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, despite his advisor reminding him he needed to major in Engineering, not extracurricular activities. Playing trumpet, Larry led a dance band which played at many fraternity parties and events. Playing Big Band music of the 1940s and 50s, those young men became life-long friends.
After college, Larry served proudly in the US Coast Guard. He completed a lighthouse inventory on the Great Lakes and supervised the construction of one of the three LORAN stations in Turkey that mapped the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea for safe and effective maritime endeavors.
As a handsome young man in a USCG uniform, he met and married Joanne Carol Hunke (Miss Ohio runner-up) in April 1958. They had a long, joyful, and adventurous marriage for 35 very full years.
Larry had a long career with DuPont Textiles in Waynesboro, VA and Wilmington, DE pioneering the use of Tyvek materials beginning with applications for mattress spring covers and sterile medical/ surgical packets. He finished his career with successfully printing onto Tyvek – from floppy disc envelopes to insulating house wraps to mailing packages which are seen and used every day all across the country and the world.
Larry was a faithful employee, but his heart was always at home with Joanne and his four children Wendy, Sue, Chris (CCF III), and Steve. Life on their 8-acres in Kennett Square, PA was full – soon there were barns filled with sheep, ponies, goats, chickens (including a fresh egg delivery business at a nearby retirement community for his young children) and horses. Farm chores provided hours of work for the kids, and rich nutrients for an abundant 1-acre fruit and vegetable garden. Larry kept his growing young boys busy with a Christmas tree nursery and firewood splitting business. The horses ultimately gave way to horsepower as the barn was floored with concrete and expanded using lumber sawn from the poplar trees on the property. As his children grew, a pool was built and the woods provided years of activities and fun for friends and church youth groups. Joanne’s gift of love for young children (and their parents) expanded over the years and together Joanne and Larry built a wonderful preschool known as Small World. Little ones laughing, playing, and swimming filled the property as their own four children grew up and went off to college.
His love of boats and the water eventually led back to the North East River and a home Joanne and Larry called “Bayside”. New adventures of motorboats, water skiing, wind surfing and sailing ensued, but daily timelines revolved around gathering for cheese and crackers to watch the sunset. “Uncle Marty” came from the West Coast for sunsets and sailing, and niece Landy spent many summers with Uncle Fuzzy (with his high and tight military buzz cut) with the East Coast Francks. Joanne, a prolific writer, sat in many spare moments next to “my friend the River” to put thoughts on paper sharing observations, thoughts, events, ideas, insights, and widsom that blessed not only the recipient but many others – even to the present.
Larry joyfully retired from DuPont in 1985 at the age of 52! In his second career, he began every morning with Joanne and a cup of coffee, had time for more projects at Kennett and Bayside, and relished the title of “Cookie Monster” at Small World. New adventures included warm winters in Florida sailing on their 36’ Catalina named Whisper with family, friends, and even porpoises; sunsets and singing in the choir. As life progressed, he helped create a “singles and doubles” community at his church.
His family grew to include sons-in-law Lee Williams and Steve Penny; daughters-in-law, Cindy, Gina and Dina. His quiver filled (eventually) with 11 grandchildren: Carol Ann, Alicia, Elizabeth, Matt, Greg, Catie, Colette, Christian (CCF IV), Josh, Taylor, and Dom.
Larry fulfilled his vows “in sickness and health ‘til death do us part” as he walked graciously with Joanne through cancer until her death in 1994. He became an “artist in pressure-treated wood” building docks and retaining walls at Bayside, and playgrounds and playhouses for grandchildren along the East Coast.
After reconnecting at their 50th High School reunion, his first-ever date, Bicky (Marlen) Thompson Gaskill became his second wife. They enjoyed a MD-AL-FL-AL-MD annual rotation enjoying children, grandchildren, family events, sun and sailing for 10 years. He again fulfilled his vows as he and Bicky journeyed through her congestive heart failure and her death in 2014.
A little more than a decade has brought many joyful additions to the family in these last years! Grand-spouses Steven, DJ, Chris, Xiao, Whitney, Manny, and Monika joined; then the blessing of eleven great-grandchildren in Annalyn, Shelby, Corrie, Wade, Rowan, Emilia, Wes, Lena, Severn, Solomon, and Margeaux. He proudly (and almost exclusively) wore t-shirts inscribed with My Favorite People Call Me Grandad… or Great-Grandad!
Larry had his own years-long journey with congestive heart failure. He was able to remain at his beloved Bayside with the faithful support of his children, medical team, neighbors Golds, Carlsons and Peters; “Larry’s Angels” Donna, Lori, Tonianne, Heather, Colleen, Emily, Jamie (and others); and Hospice. He enjoyed the majesty of the North East River, eagles in flight, sunsets, and Henry the Heron; telling stories, eating ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, and watching adopted grands Jordan and Jackie revitalize Whisper. On February 18th, he finished his earthly journey and passed peacefully from his children’s arms to the arms of Jesus.
Larry and Joanne Franck built their lives on strong foundations which carry on as their legacy:
• A deep and abiding love for family
(and drawing others in as part of their extended family)
• A vibrant faith community in and through the local church
(in every location and every phase of life – from childhood through his last weeks, even Zooming in for Bible Studies and Prayer Meetings with his Florida church friends)
• Celebrating beauty in this world – love, wind, water, sunsets, and music of all kinds
(big band, orchestral, organ, classical, choral and church music – especially hymns)
• Designing and building and creating
(always and everywhere)
…and recruiting others to join them in all of those endeavors.
CC Franck Jr, Larry, Beary, Dad, Grandad, Great-Grandad, brother, Uncle, friend, child of God, and Cookie Monster... he loved well, was well-loved, and will be dearly missed.
For condolences, please visit www.crouchfuneralhome.com
