U. Franklin Carolyn

On November 4, 2017, Carolyn U. Franklin, age 92, passed away peacefully at Kendal at Ithaca. Carolyn was born August 7, 1925, in East Hamilton, NY, to Robert Reese and Gladys Wellar Usher. At age 5, Carolyn and her family moved from the Usher Homestead Farm to their own farm near Tully, NY.

Carolyn attended grades 1-5 in a one room school house before attending and graduating from Tully Central School in 1942. She went on to attend Cornell University, graduating in 1945 with a B.S. from the College of Home Economics as an Education major. She graduated from high school at age 16, then received her Cornell degree in three years during WWII, graduating at the age of 19.

From 1945-1947, Carolyn taught high school homemaking and managed the cafeteria at Port Jervis High School in Port Jervis, NY. She went on to become a Home Demonstration Agent with Cornell Extension Service from 1947-1955 covering Chautauqua, Columbia, and Tompkins counties. While working in Columbia County, Carolyn was selected as a Community Ambassador with the Experiment in International Living and spent the summer of 1951 living with a family in Bastod, Sweden. This sparked her love of travel and a lifelong friendship with her Swedish family.

In 1955, while working in Tompkins County, Carolyn met and married Benjamin Franklin of Ovid, NY. They were married for 57 years and lived in Ovid until 1996.

Carolyn also taught Home Economics from 1969-71 in what is now South Seneca Central School. In 1971, she became an educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Seneca County and continued there until her retirement in 1984.

Carolyn❜s love for travel continued throughout her life. Ben and Carolyn traveled extensively in their retirement before moving to Kendal at Ithaca in 1996.

Carolyn dearly loved her family, friends, music, birding, sewing, and playing bridge. She was active in community affairs, including churches where she sang in the choirs for over 50 years, LUBS (Ladies Union Benevolent Society) Board, PEO, BD chapter, D.A.R., Colonial Dames XVII Century, Ovid Twentieth Century Club, and Seneca County Children❜s Committee.

Carolyn is survived by two sons, James Alan (Becky), of Boulder CO, and Bruce Richard (Kate) of Corning NY, step-grandson Scott Reu of Raleigh NC, sister Janet Stokoe of Ft. Lauderdale FL, brother Lynn Usher (Andrea) of Melbourne Beach FL, several nieces and nephews, and special friends Karen, Matt and Kirsten Sheffer. She was predeceased by her husband, Ben, in October, 2012, and her sister Ruth Wisner (Herb) in May, 2017.

Once again, special thanks to the staff at Kendal for all the loving care given to Ben and Carolyn during their times of need.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kendal❜s Rainy Day Fund. These donations can be sent to Kendal at Ithaca, 2230 N. Triphammer Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 or a charity of your choice, if desired.

A Celebration of Life, Memorial Service and Reception will be held at Kendal of Ithaca from 2-5pm on Saturday, December 2, 2017.