Franklin W. Daniels

STANDISH — Franklin W. Daniels, 91, of Middle Jam Road, Standish, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 at his home, surrounded by family and friends. He was born on Feb. 16, 1921 in South-bridge, Mass., graduated from Mary E. Wells High School in 1938 and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., in 1942, with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was a veteran of World War II, having enlisted in the Army Air Force right out of college and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1943.

He married Eleanor H. Smith of Averill Park, N.Y. in 1944 after a courtship while both were students in Troy. After an intensified course of study in Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he was deployed to the Philippines for two years, where he worked largely as a weatherman, determining when and where the military planes could fly. His engineering career was spent working for 37 years at General Electric, in Natrona Heights, Pa., Pittsfield, Mass., Fort Edward, N.Y., and Westport, Conn.

In 1983, he and Ellie retired to Sanford, N.C., where they resided for 20 years, before moving back north to Gorham, Maine in 2002 to be closer to family. He is remembered for his love of golf, gardening, music, loving devotion to his family, and many friends. His wife, whom he cared for in her final ailing years, passed away in 2003.

He is survived by his son, David C. Daniels and his wife, Jodee Davidson of Standish; his daughter, Leanne D. Cooper and her husband Jonathan Cooper of Gorham; grandchildren, Kelly Daniels of Standish, James Daniels of Greene, Amos and Seth Cooper of Gorham; and one great-grandchild, Levi Daniels.

A memorial service will take place at an as yet undetermined time. Donations may be made in his name to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074. Arrangements are by the Dolby Funeral Chapel, 434 River Road, Windham. Online condolences may be made to www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com