Albert F. Franz

Albert F. Franz died at the age of 95 on Monday, March 11, at his home on Fir Island, Mount Vernon, Wash.

He was born Aug. 30, 1917, at the family homestead in Schrag, Wash. He was the fourth of six children born to Peter and Agnetha (Ewert) Franz.

The Franz’s were German immigrants from the Crimea area in Russia, where they had emigrated on agreement they would teach farming practices in exchange for relief from conscription (military draft). The family first settled in South Dakota, then subsequently settled northeast of Warden.

He was raised on the homestead farm near Schrag, and graduated from Lind High School in 1934.

He wanted to attend college, saving money for two years after high school and when his father gave him $200, he went to Washington State College and then University of Washington. He graduated from UW in mechanical engineering, where as an undergraduate, he was inducted into Zeta Mu Tau, mathematics honor society. There he met Jane Montgomery, who would become his wife of 58 years.

He served his country during WWII as a civilian working for Boeing as a tooling engineer on various programs including the B47 bomber. He was an independent thinker, with an entrepreneurial bent and returned to farming in the Columbia Basin Project in Block 49, west of Othello in 1953 with Jane and their two young sons, Paul and Jim.

He later joined the Grant County PUD working on Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams as construction inspector, mechanical maintenance supervisor, advancing to project engineer.

Following retirement, he and Jane traveled extensively all over the world. After Jane’s death in 2000, he spent the last 12 years with his special friend, Ruth Wylie. They spent winters in Palm Springs, the warm months in Kennewick and then recently on Fir Island.

He was a quiet man, wise, humble and kind. He had a keen intellect, enjoyed crosswords, bridge, reading, classical music, proper manners and grammar, decorum and always, good food and friends. On the farm in Othello he was an avid gardener, harvesting fruits and vegetables. He and Jane enjoyed the local dance club, golf and Grange. He was a member of the Kennewick Kiwanis, a supporter of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Palm Springs. He had a great wit until the end. He set a wonderful example for his grandchildren on how to live a life of purpose, loyalty and grace. He will be missed by all his family, friends and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Agnetha; wife, Jane; son, James; siblings, Walter, Arnold, and Bertha Franz.

He is survived by his son, Paul; grandchildren, Dana, Kathryn, Elizabeth and Natalie; siblings, Victor and Sylvia (Adams); daughters-in-law, Charlene (James) and Rochana (Paul); and his very special friend, Ruth Wylie.

A memorial service is to be held at the Menno Cemetery on April 6 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. Memorial gifts may be made to the Menno Mennonite Church, 1378 North Damon Road, Ritzville, WA 99169; or the Hospice of the Northwest, 819 South 13th Street, Mt. Vernon WA 98274.

Hawthorne Funeral Home of Mount Vernon is entrusted with the arrangements. An online guest register is available at http://www.hawthornefh.com.