Rusty Franklin

Russell "Rusty" Franklin was born July 12, 1956 to Bill and Dolores Franklin and Rusty went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, January 1, 2014.
To meet Rusty was to like Rusty. He is everyone's best friend. Whatever you needed, Rusty was there for you with a can do attitude. He is "old School" meaning honor trust and love guided his life. Family, church, and friends came first.
At school, he was a change maker who touched and influenced countless students whether it be on the field, in the classroom, or in his office. He was the math teacher kids turned to when they needed to learn the process of mathematics. He truly was a math guru. He was the coach the kids knew they could depend on to model life skills they could carry into adulthood like fair play, good sportsman like behavior, and love of a good game. And the other teams were wary because his game plans and strategies were sneaky and successful.
Rusty was blessed with a passion for his career. His gifts of compassion and empathy were used daily for over thirty years at school. He wanted his workplace to be fun and would often be the one pulling the jokes and stunts on his coworkers just to break the tension. So when the kids came in to his office referred for a prank, he would be giggling inside his head at what they did. He had a knack for encouraging both kids and coworkers in a gentle-hearted manner. He always wanted success for those around him, so many turned to him as their mentor for his guidance and advice. Everyone turned to him for help and knew he'd be there for them. He was blessed to work in a career where he was able to share his gifts with others and work with kids he loved. He had become a master of diplomacy at school and could work behind the scenes to insure and enable success for a struggling kid.
At home, he filled his wife's life with laughter, adventures, and precious adoring love. He was an avid organic gardener and loved to be outdoors. And get out of the way, if a good game was on, baseball or football!
But most importantly, Rusty had learned "the secret" of life early and practiced it daily. Open yourself to the blessings and miracles around you and express your love often and always remember to give the praise and glory to God. Rusty didn't believe in "bucket lists" because he grabbed life with gusto and never delayed.
His love of life, joy in love, and laughter ended much too soon. His gentle loving spirit will be missed by many. But he is with God. When sad he would remind us to turn to Him and the Word. One of Rusty's favorite verses was Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Rusty's love, optimism and can do attitude lives on in our hearts. His mantra came from Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart".
Rusty is survived by his wife Anne Franklin, parents Bill and Dolores Franklin, siblings Cindy Pontius and her husband Kevin, Crystal Rudko and her husband Dave and Greg Franklin, father-in-law Larry Kenny and his wife Helen, in-laws Laura Prendergast, Steve Kenny and his wife Jennifer, Ernie Gatewood and his wife Beth and Evan Gatewood and his wife Michelle, many adoring nieces and nephews and lots of extended family and friends. Rusty was preceded in death by his mother-in-law Mary Kenny.
His life will be celebrated at a memorial service at 4:00 PM on Sunday, January 5, 2014 in the Worship Center at Chase Oaks Church, 281 Legacy Dr., Plano, Texas. The family suggests if desired, memorials in Rusty's name be made to Chase Oaks Church for the Fairview Campus building fund or to Plano East Senior High School for a football and baseball scholarship fund to be established in Rusty's memory.