Ray Nathaniel Franklin Jr.

On August 26, 2019 Ray Nathaniel Franklin Jr., a 24 year resident of Dripping Springs, passed away. He was born in Sinton, Texas in 1930 to parents Ray and Lelia Pearl. While attending Texas A&I in Kingsville he met his future wife, Janet Harmon. Shortly after their marriage in 1953, the Army sent him to Japan to help rebuild refinery capacity lost in WWII. After Army service, he worked at Shell Oil for 35 years. When he retired he was managing the Shell Coal Gasification Project at Deer Park, perfecting a clean way to use coal without burning it.

In retirement, he left the world of petroleum behind and adopted a fifty-plus-acre plot near Dripping Springs for a home and nature preserve. As a Master Naturalist, he promoted re-introduction of native Texas grasses to the Hill Country. He particularly enjoyed showing six-foot-long roots of perennial grasses to school children, along with his rain simulator made from spare plumbing parts. Jacob's Well supporters knew him as a steadfast advocate of protection for that unique natural area.

Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years Janet Franklin and their four children Ray Nathaniel III (Cathy), Jeffrey Thomas (Gigi), Eric Harmon and Carol Ann. And one granddaughter Avery.