Carl H. Franklin of McDonald's
Carl H. Franklin, 81, of Warminster, a McDonald's corporate employee who brought the restaurant to 30th Street Station and a statue of its mascot to a Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, died Monday, April 11, at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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Carl H. Franklin, 81, of Warminster, a McDonald's corporate employee who brought the restaurant to 30th Street Station and a statue of its mascot to a Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, died Monday, April 11, at Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
He also helped bring McDonald's restaurants to rest stops along the Pennsylvania Turnpike during more than 20 years in the real estate division.
Mr. Franklin was born in North Philadelphia. After graduating from Abington High School in 1953, he attended Temple University.
In 1996, he retired as a corporate director of real estate for McDonald's.
The company gave him a life-size statue of Ronald McDonald sitting on a park bench. He donated it to the Ronald McDonald House on Chestnut Street. The Ronald houses are for ill children and their families to stay in during hospital treatment.
Mr. Franklin and his wife, Mary Ann, were active volunteers at the nonprofit. He dressed up as Santa Claus for the kids' holiday party every year.
His love of children spurred him to also dress up for family members, friends, and neighbors probably a thousand times, said his son Carl W.
"He was a fun-loving guy," he said.
Andre Saballette, 28, said he met Mr. Franklin when he was a 1-year-old cancer patient staying with his single mother at the Ronald McDonald House. Mr. Franklin has been his grandpa, "Poppy," for as long as Saballette can remember. He recalled him as hero and mentor and kid at heart. "He taught me to always keep that part of me alive," he said.
Mr. Franklin enjoyed taking children to sporting events and was a loyal Philadelphia sports fan.
In addition to his wife of nearly 61 years and his son, he is survived by a sister, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry E.
A memorial service will be Saturday, April 23, at St. John's United Methodist Church, 820 Almshouse Road, Ivyland, Pa. 18974. Visitation starts at 9 a.m., followed by the service at 11.
Contributions may be made to the church at the address above or the Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 19104.
610-313-8207@MichaelleBond