Arden R. (Ardie) Franklin, 81, of Norwich and formerly of the Oxford and Preston areas, passed away Thursday evening, November 1, 2018, at his home.

Ardie was born in Preston on October 20, 1937 the son of Matthew and Theabelle (King) Franklin. He grew up in the Oxford and Preston area and attended the Oxford school.

For many years he worked on his mom and dad’s farm and in 1965 he began a 27 year career with the Chenango County Highway Dept. where he worked as a truck driver retiring in 1992.

In his spare time he enjoyed his family, playing cards, country music, and pulling ponies, which he did for many years.

In 2008 Ardie married his longtime companion Mary Meade Baldwin who survives. Besides his wife Mary of Norwich he is survived by his children Luann (Robert) Kida of Oxford, Brian (Valarie) Franklin of Plymouth, step-children Rick (Sandy) White of Virginia Beach, Rock (Kim) White of Kamas, UT, Liza (Andy Leed) White of Candor, Vicki (Bert) Beames of Otego, Crystal Pavlunenko of Minneapolis, MN, John (Priscilla) Baldwin of Norwich and Brent Baldwin of VA, his siblings Gloria (Doug) Davis of Oxford and Allan (Julia) Franklin of Preston, sister-in-law Esther Franklin. Along with his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ardie was predeceased by a step-daughter Sheila Hoke, sisters Eleanor Loomis and Winifred Smith and brothers Delmar, Dwight, Lawrence and Merton Franklin.

A funeral service for Ardie will be held on Wednesday at 12:00 Noon from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home with interment to follow in the J.D. Lewis cemetery of Preston.

Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Wednesday from 10 am until the time of the service at Noon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.