Franklin C. '"Peewee"' Grower

Franklin C. "PeeWee" Grower, 71, formerly of River and Division Sts. Forestport, and more recently a resident of Kortenaer Village, South St. Boonville, passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2008, at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, New Hartford, after a long illness. A native of Forestport, he was born on January 30, 1937, a son of Earle and Maude Elliott Grower. Most of his life was spent in Forestport, where he attended school, receiving his high school diploma while serving in the U.S. Army. In Feb. 1954, he entered the Army with his brother Tom, and Franklin served with the army signal corps, in Germany and the Middle East, returning to Forestport in 1962. For several years he was employed as a security guard at the Masonic Home in Utica, and then for eighteen years he was employed as a custodian at the Buffalo Head Restaurant in Forestport. He enjoyed reading military books, and watching military movies. Mr. Grower was a fifty year member of the Forestport Fire Fighters, and had served as Department Chief. After moving to Boonville in 2006, he joined the Boonville Fire Co., and served on the department police. Franklin is survived by brothers, and sisters, Tom Grower, Margaret "Peg" Grower, Marjorie "Marnie" Brown, all of Forestport, Jim, Heath, Ohio, and Curt Grower, Exeter, NH. He was predeceased by brothers and sisters: Marie, Vivian, Betty, Patricia, Ted, Skip, and William E. "Fritz" Grower, on January 16, 2008. His Funeral Services will be Friday at 8:00 P.M. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, with a spring interment in Beechwood Cemetery, Forestport. Calling hours are Friday 5-8 P.M. at the funeral home. Flowers are gratefully declined; instead memorial contributions may be made to Forestport or Boonville Fire Companies.