Franklin Cordell Willoughby, Sr.
Franklin Cordell Willoughby, 88, of Waynesboro, Virginia, passed away peacefully on the 27th of January 2024, at Regency Assisted Living in Fishersville. He was born on the 16th of November 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland to Francis Derwin Root Willoughby and Elsie Jeanetta Probert. He was preceded in death by his parents, two half-brothers Harrison Derwin, Francis Edgar II and one half-sister, June Margaret (Willoughby) Wilson.
Franklin was a devoted family man who loved his family dearly. He is survived by his loving wife, Corina (Odham) Willoughby. They were married for 69 years. He was the father of three sons and one daughter; Franklin Cordell II with wife Marianne, of Carmel, Indiana; Thomas Derwin of Deltaville, Virginia; Daniel Parker with wife Sharon, of Stuarts Draft, Virginia; and Corina Bliss Burner with husband Michael of Elliston, Virginia. He was the grandfather of nine grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great grandchildren; Franklin Willoughby of Indiana, Jennifer Troemer (Andrew) of Indiana, John Willoughby of Indiana, and Angela Dudley (Richard) of Utah; Kim Cohen (Phil) of Washington; Amy Willoughby of Virginia; Joseph Burner (Jenny) of Utah; Sarah Rosenthal (Terrance) of South Carolina; Jennifer Brobjorg of Virginia; Emily Hall (Jerry) of Virginia; Dustin Vance of Virginia; Jack Brobjorg of Virginia and Daniel Rosenthal of South Carolina. He is survived by one brother, Duane Willoughby (Eileen) of Florida with many nieces and nephews.
Franklin was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served faithfully in many callings within the church. His love for God and for his fellowman was an example to so many. He and his wife served a mission for the church to Ventura, California from 2006 to 2007.
Franklin loved his country and community. He served as a photographer in the United States Navy Reserve, enlisting in 1953 and was honorably discharged. He often did volunteer work within the community when he saw a need. He served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the city of Waynesboro. His career spanned a variety of occupations over the course of his life, as he worked hard to provide for his family. These ranged from taxi driver, photographer, life insurance sales, and then finally working in the electronics field which he loved.He worked at Home Beneficial Life Insurance, Westinghouse, General Electric, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory before going into business for himself in 1974. He was an outstanding businessman, operating his own television repair shop in both Waynesboro and Charlottesville for 28 years until he retired.
Franklin will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. A visitation will be held at McDow Funeral Home, 1701 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. His funeral will be held on February 1st, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2825 Jefferson Lane, Waynesboro. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery, 420 Rosser Ave., Waynesboro.
The family wishes to thank the hospice staff of the Hospice of the Shenandoah, as well as the staff of Regency Assisted Living for their care of Franklin.
