John Howard Franklin, Jr., age 77 of Hudson, OH passed away on September 6, 2026. 

Loving husband, father and grandfather (“Poppy”). 

John was a graduate of Robert Morris University with a degree in business. John and his wife of 53 years were high school sweethearts (Cleveland Heights High School) and lived in Shaker Hts. for 14 years and later moved to Hudson. 

John was a photographer with Nelson’s Photography and later owned his own studio. He was also in sales at Laurel Camera. John was a member of the Ohio Genealogical Society and Hudson Genealogical Society. He joined many lineal organizations: Western Reserve Society – Sons of the American Revolution, The Mayflower Society and the Society of the War of 1812. He was also interested in Cleveland history and was a member of the Early Settlers Association. John started the Northeast Ohio BMW Car Club of America. 

He will be remembered for his love of history, volunteering, BMWs and traveling.

John was the beloved husband of Elizabeth “Betty” Franklin (nee Way); loving father of William “Bill” Franklin (Deirdre) of Lake Forest, IL; dear grandfather of Liam, Beatrice, J. Harrison and Eloise Franklin; dear brother of the late Susan H. Franklin; son of the late J. Howard and Barbara J. Franklin (nee Case). 

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to University Hospitals of Cleveland (support.uhgiving.org) or to the Western Reserve Society – Sons of the American Revolution Scholarship Fund, 17511 Daleview Dr., Lakewood, OH 44107, or to the charity of your choice. 

A memorial service will be held in his memory at 11am on Saturday, September 19th at Laurel Lake Retirement Community (community room), 200 Laurel Lake Dr., Hudson, OH 44236. 

Private family interment, Lake View Cemetery. 

To view the service virtually, please log onto this obituary at the time of the service.