Franklin Wayne Wickland

Wayne was born May 11th, 1935 and spent his youth in Westfield MA with his parents Doris and Franklin (Mike), grandmother and aunt at 17 Bates Street. As a young boy his eyesight was poor and he was considered legally blind. His world was changed with glasses and books. By the age of ten, he had access to the adult library as he had read all the children’s books in the city library. You could always find him with a book or magazine – at the table, in his car, any spare moment. To say he was well read would be an understatement.

He was always thankful for the experiences he was afforded as a young person; whether it be refugees, customers from all walks of life at his parent’s service station, people he met through his newspaper routes or stock clerk/soda jerk job, or workers and veterans on the floor of his uncle’s manufacturing job. He also enjoyed what his parents did with Girl Scouting which was continued for years as a family.

The best day of his life, to hear him tell it, was the day he met Barbara at a Christian youth group (Springfield District Older Youths) get together; dunking her under at the pond. He knew from that moment that she was the one for him. They were a good-looking couple. They survived a hurricane, nursing school and college year separations and married on May 31, 1959– the real Memorial Day.

He graduated from Western New England College with a degree in mechanical engineering. While he was never a good student and could not spell for beans; however, he could figure out a way to fix anything. He was proud of being published twice. He worked at Nobles Manufacturing until it closed and was glad of what he learned about good leadership there. He was able to take those skills into his next job at Wesco Electric where he worked until his retirement in 2000.

He and Barbara were active in church governance for 45 years. He enjoyed his work with the Ashfield Council on Aging and Senior Center after Mom passed as well as fifty plus years as a Lion.

A self- professed hardnosed and stubborn individual, he was proud of his children and grandchildren (Bill Wickland; Sharon & Tim Wickland-Shearer with Eli and Lily; Karen & Leigh Phillips with Alex and Mahala Clayton; Linda & Michael Hayes with Michelle and Tim). He was also proud of becoming a great-grandfather to Ella, Braxten & Ariana.

He wishes young people today were given some of the same opportunities he was given (especially to explore different cultures and jobs) and were able to share those experiences with their youthful contemporaries. He wishes the elders would take up the challenge to introduce their children to the world before they are out on their own.

In lieu of flowers, he would prefer donations to the Senior Center Foundation Inc., PO Box 464, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370.

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