William Paul Franklin, 80, of Olathe, KS, passed away Sept. 22, 2020. Visitation 4:00-6:00 pm Mon., Oct. 5, 2020 at Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS. Private family inurnment at Gardner Cemetery, Gardner, KS. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com William was born March 31, 1940 in Chicago, IL to Ralph and Esther (Gillstrom) Franklin. He grew up in Southwest City, MO where his father was a farmer. His father later moved to Wichita when he became a butcher. William graduated from Wichita State Univ. After graduation he took a job as an editor of the Nazarene Publishing House in KC, MO. William married Marian Franklin in 1960 and she was the mother of his children. They lived in Shawnee and then moved to Olathe in 1968. She passed away in 2000. William married Marilyn Middleton Phelps in 2003. He was a pre-school teacher and owner of Heritage Montessori in Olathe. William was an active member of Church of the Harvest, Olathe, KS. He will be missed by family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Marian and Marilyn; brother, Ralph Franklin and a grandchild. William is survived by his children: Brent and wife Linda Franklin, Shawnee, KS, Bryan and wife Beth Franklin, Olathe, KS, Bradley and wife Christy Franklin, Shawnee, KS and Elizabeth Wynn, North Kansas City, MO; brothers: Ben Franklin, Goddard, KS and Bob Franklin, St. Louis, MO; 14 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.