Submitted by: Dan Rich

Franklin Flowers

April 24, 1936 - Dec. 16, 2000

South Bend Tribune 12/17/2000

Franklin "Skeeter" Flowers, 64, of Wild Rose, Mishawaka, Ind., died at 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, in his residence. He was born on April 24, 1936, in South Bend, Ind., and was the son of Frank and Katherine (Leffler) Flowers. Mr. Flowers retired in 1999 from Selmers in Elkhart, Ind. Mr. Flowers is survived by two daughters, Sharon (Joseph) Wawrzyniak of South Bend and Laurie (Brian) McLemore of Osceola, Ind.; two sons, Franklin E. (Caroline) Flowers Jr. of Mishawaka and Jeffrey (Lynn) Flowers of South Bend; 13 grandchildren and five great- grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Janiszewski of South Bend; and by his fiancee, Susan Szwark of Mishawaka.

Mr. Flowers received an honorary discharge from the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Mr. Flowers played with many bands in the area: The Four Tones, Sally Szymarek, Larry Banicki and the Continentals, Barry Stull Trio, Skeeter Flowers Orchestra, Paul Futa, Frank Wantuch, Dennis Wantuch, C.G. Conn Traveling Band, and Don Sugar.

Family and friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home. Entombment will be in the Resurrection Gardens Mausoleum, St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of donor's choice.