Julia C. Franke, Joy Beach bird watcher
Julia C. “Judy” Franke, 75, of Lewes, passed away in her sleep Sunday, March 18, 2012, at the home she shared with her daughter’s family in Abingdon, Md. She was born in Elizabeth, N.J., the daughter of the late Harry and Maybelle Petersen.
Mrs. Franke was born, raised, and lived most of her life in South Jersey, but started coming to Joy Beach near Lewes on weekends in 1984 and became a full time resident in her treasured home by Rehoboth Bay in 1994. She enjoyed a long business career with positions as executive secretary for various corporations in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and was the Regional Office Administrator for the Philadelphia office of Goldman, Sachs, & Company for 11 years.
After she and her husband moved to Lewes full time, Mrs. Franke worked for Wilson, Halbrook & Bayard in Georgetown, until she retired at age 70. She enjoyed music, reading, bird watching, chatting with friends, neighbors and family, and taking care of her spoiled Boston Terrier, Daisy Mae. Judy’s Joy Beach neighbors were a tremendous help and good company to her and were among her most treasured friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Christine Thom, her son-in-law Michael Thom, and granddaughter, Kelsey Thom, all of Abingdon; a son and his fiancée, Charles Franke and Jackie Grogan of Pine Hill, N.J.; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Bryan and Rebecca Thom, of Lexington, S.C.; dear sister-in-law and friend, Jenney Petersen, of Leesburg, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Wolfgang Franke; and recently by her brother and best friend, Harry Petersen. The ashes of both Judy and Wolf were scattered near Joy Beach for their final rest very recently.
Memorial contributions would be most gratefully be accepted by Diocese of Delaware, Camp Arrowhead Endowment Fund, 2020 Tatnall Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. The family thanks Camp Arrowhead for all its good works and for teaching children in both the past and into the future about God and nature.
