James "Jim" Eldon Franklin

James “Jim” Eldon Franklin, 88, of Idaho Falls, passed away December 18, 2023, at home.

Jim was born June 21, 1935, in Oakland, California, to Jesse Chesley Franklin and Anna Loar Lytle. He grew up and attended schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from Southern Illinois University and received his Bachelor's of Science degree.

On February 4, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Elaine Joyce Cardana in San Leandro, CA. They later divorced in 1979.  On September 15, 1980, he married Josephine Marie Lagoe in Las Vegas, Nevada. Josephine passed away in 2012. In 2021, he reunited with his sweetheart, Elaine before she passed away in January of 2023.

Jim was a Senior Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He also served in the Marines and the Navy and was a veteran of the Korean, Vietnam and Desert Storm wars.

Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and flying. He had his private pilot's license.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Debra Lee (Gary) Smylie of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Diana Marie (Lonnie Wilson) Franklin of Columbus, GA; sister, Janea Franklin of Seattle, WA; brother, Michael (Glenda) Hogg of Imperial Beach, CA;  4 grandchildren and  2 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Chesley Franklin; mother, Anna Loar Hogg; wife, Josephine Marie Lagoe Franklin; ex-wife, Elaine Joyce Cardana Snyder; son, Tracy Franklin; and brother, Edward Franklin.