Note from the Editor: The following article appeared in the Spring 2009 issue of Hometown. We feature it again here for our visitors to read about the extraordinary life of one of Bronco’s charter members.
Franklin Whitley has seen a lot in his 88 years on this planet. He lived through the Great Depression. He fought in World War II. And he was one of the first members of Bronco Federal Credit Union when we opened our doors in 1941. “There was something they were offering there for us to join and save some money,” says Franklin. “So I opened an account and they’ve been a very good company for me to be with over the years. They’re the tops. I can only judge them by how I’ve been treated and it couldn’t have been better.”
A self-proclaimed “flag waver,” Franklin comes from a long line of military people. His great grandfather was with the 31st North Carolina Infantry in the Civil War. His father served with the 81st Infantry Division, 316th Artillery in France during World War I. Franklin, himself served with the 104th Infantry “Timberwolves” Division, 329th Engineer Combat Division between 1942 and 1945 in Northern France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Central Europe.
His middle brother was assigned to the 69th Infantry Division, 273rd Regiment during WWII and received the Bronze Star. His youngest brother was with the 7th Infantry Division, 19th Regiment (he believes) in Korea.
With all of this military background, it’s not surprising that Franklin belongs to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In fact, he is the last living WWII member of the Franklin VFW Post. “When I watch the television and I see our troops walking the streets in Iraq, and there are civilians there walking around with automatic weapons, I feel for our soldiers,” says Franklin. “My heart bleeds for them because they don’t know if those civilians are friends or foes.”
Returning from the war, Franklin went to work for what was then called the Chesapeake- Camp Corporation. He remained there (through various company name changes and acquisitions) until he retired on October 31, 1982. These days he keeps busy watching the New York Yankees and keeping his home and property in order.
Even though he’s had a complete hip replacement, has arthritis all through his back and calcium deposits in his lower back that limit his mobility, Franklin still gets out on the riding mower to take care of his lawn when it needs work. And he doesn’t seem to mind when he has to touch up spots with the string-trimmer or needs to do a bit of raking.
The fact that he drinks a 12-cup pot of coffee every day might help. Or perhaps his youthfulness is due in part because he gave up smoking cold-turkey two years ago after he learned how potentially harmful his second-hand smoke was for his wife of almost 68 years, Lessie Lorraine. “That’s the worse thing I have ever done is to subject Lessie to that smoke,” says Franklin. So he quit and never looked back.
Franklin still gets choked up when he thinks back to all of the men he served with overseas who lost their lives on the battlefield. But he wouldn’t trade his experiences for all the money in the world. “I can look anybody in the eyes, because I paid my dues,” he says. “I have no regrets and I’m thankful. I’ve been blessed and I’ve had a great partner in Lessie. It’s been a great trip for me, I’ll tell you that.”
