Dates
David Gene Franks was born Oct. 15, 2930, to Tommy Franks and Thelma Sesson Franks in Sonora, Texas. Growing up in the depression to a game warden and a waitress, he lived in many different Texas cities.He was drafted into the Army in 1951 as a Ranger and was sent home in 1952, after the tragic death of his father in Fort Stockton.In 1953, he moved to Angelo, working odd jobs but eventually in front-end alignments for Sid Lumley. In 1955, with the help of his charm, race skills and his 1932 Coupe, he met Kay Koon. They were soon married.In 1969, he opened his own front-end alignment shop on 5th Street, then in the late 1970s moved to Good Year Proving Grounds to work on trucks and front ends. In his spare time, he raced drag boats, which at the time of his death, he still owned. He also loved working on old cars, especially his 1927 Ford and 1956 Chevy.He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; uncles and cousins.He is survived by wife of 58 years, Kay of San Angelo; daughter Gena Franks-Hughs and husband Mark; and his sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Perry Richardson of Del Rio.In lieu of flowers, please give to Hospice of San Angelo or the Humane Society of San Angelo.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, in the chapel at Johnson's Funeral Home