Passing of Life Member B. Franklin Morris III. - Smyrne, DE

Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Officers and Members of the Citizens' Hose Company No.1 Inc. regret to announce the passing of Life Member B. Franklin Morris III. He joined the department on December 2, 1946, gained Life Member status on December 31, 1967 and was awarded Special Life Member status on June 5, 2000. During his time with us, Frank answered 2,325 alarms, served as Vice President, Trustee, Board of Directors, numerous committees, as a Delegate to the DVFA, and as President on the Del-Mar-Va Volunteer Firemen's Association. Please see the attached obituary for funeral details. B. Franklin Morris III, of Smyrna, was greeted home by his wife of 61 years on Sunday May 15, 2011. He was 87. Frank was born in Smyrna on June 3, 1923 to the late B. Franklin Jr. and Ethel Morris. He graduated from James Groves High School and worked as a Civil Service Foreman at the Dover Air Force Base paint shop, as well as being partners with his father and brother in Morris & Sons Signs. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Frank was an active member of the community, joining the Citizens' Hose Fire Company, Smyrna, in 1946. He became a special life member on June 5, 2008. He held the office of Vice President for three years, was on the board of directors for one year, and was a trustee for two years. He was also a member of the Delmarva Fireman’s Association, and was named to the Hall of Fame in 1985, having held the office of President in 1984-85. He was a Smyrna Town Councilman for several years, served on the Smyrna Auxiliary Police, and was a member of Harmony Masonic Lodge #13, Smyrna and the Scottish Rite. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Alberta B. Morris. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-laws, Lynn M. and Jehu Banks; Lea and Lee Dulin, all of Clayton; and Louise and David Jester, of Chesapeake, VA; a son and daughter-in-law, B. Franklin and Dorothy Morris, of Clayton; a brother, Leon F. Morris, of Dover; seven grandchildren, Larry and Gail Drummond; Lee and Marcia Dulin; Kim and Mike Wheatley; Sarah Peachey; DJ Jester; B. Franklin Morris V; and Rebecca Lea Morris; and seven great-grandchildren. Services will be held Friday, May 20 at 11 a.m., at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m., and again on Friday morning at 10 a.m. A Masonic service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Interment will be privately held at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Citizens' Hose Co., PO Box 97, Smyrna, DE 19977. To send a condolence letter, visit www.delmarvaobits.com. Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.

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