Obituary of Franks, Robert Cecil

Robert Cecil Franks, MD passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 23, 2018. He was a loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was born in Ft. Worth on February 28, 1934 and lived in Ft. Worth and Houston until moving to Chattanooga, TN in high school and then on to Sheffield, Alabama. Robert graduated from Vanderbilt University Phi Beta Kappa and from Vanderbilt Medical School AOA. He was on the faculty at Vanderbilt for several years as Head of Pediatric Endocrinology and then at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio for 22 years,  where he also served briefly as interim department chair. He then became Deputy Chairman of Pediatrics and Head of Pediatric Endocrinology at UT Houston until his retirement in 2000. He loved and was loved by his colleagues and patients. Upon retirement, Robert and his wife moved to Dallas to be near his son and two grandsons. He always said it was the best move he ever made. He and his wife celebrated their 60th Anniversary on August 31, 2017, in the same place where they spent their honeymoon: Paris. Unfortunately for their children who joined them there, it was Paris, Tennessee. However, Robert and Didi enjoyed traveling together around the U.S., to Europe, and to the Caribbean—as well as dancing together all by themselves at home on New Year’s Eve. Robert loved his profession;  sailing; collecting stamps; tulips; Beegie Adair; Johnny Carson; reading detective novels, Mark Twain, and Dr. Seuss; dear old friends; and more than anything in the world, his wife and family. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Dabney (Didi) Darnall Franks; daughters Deborah (Debbie) Evaline (Bill Brooks) and Elizabeth (Lisa) Anne (Ronald “Sam” Fowler) and son Robert Cecil Jr. (Ann);  sisters-in-law Patricia Franks, Alma Franks, and Betty Darnall Champion; brother-in-law Brad Darnall; grandchildren Gabriel Lein (Kirsten Gravdahl), Derek Andrew Franks, Philip Austin Franks, and  Avi Lein; and special great-grandson Milo William Gravdahl. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew Guy Franks and Evaline Stapleton Franks and by his brothers Jon Guy Franks and James Michael Franks. He loved his family so much and they loved him even more. He will be so missed. Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.