John Franklin Gaston, 91, son of John and Mary Lewis Gaston, was born April 7, 1916, at Eunice. He died Nov. 8, 2007, at Delmar Gardens Hospice Care Center at St. Louis.
He grew up in the Eunice area, where he attended school. He later worked in the local timber and construction. He also worked on farms in Iowa and Wyoming.
He married Ina Hunter of Summersville Dec. 19, 1939. They were married 65 years and had one daughter.
Mr. Franklin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Philippines, New Guinea and Leyte Gulf as a member of the 33rd Special Sea Bees Battalion.
Following his discharge, he returned to St. Louis and was a metal polisher for American Fixtures Co. He retired in 1979.
He was a member of the United Church of Christ and American Legion.
He enjoyed traveling and visiting with friends and neighbors. His hobbies were fishing and hunting.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, four brothers and one sister.
Surviving are his daughter, Donna Kay of St. Peters; one sister, Theda Thomas of Wyandotte, Okla.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were Nov. 11 at the Stygar Mortuary at St. Charles. Burial was Nov. 13 at Jefferson Barricks.
