Elpidia "Pia" Esther Franklin

Elpidia “Pia” Esther Franklin, 91, formerly of Rancho Palos Verdes and currently of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away at her home on March 3, 2021. She was a loving, devoted, and beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend.

Esther was born March 17, 1929, in San Pedro to Elpidio and Natalia Real. Her father passed away before she was born. Her mother, years later, married Ynez Garcia. Esther grew up in San Pedro and left in October of 2017 to be with her son and daughter in Grants Pass, OR.

In April of 1947 she married Captain Wayne E. Franklin. They were married for 68 wonderful years before Wayne “Dick” passed away. Children: John, Diana, Robert. Grandchildren: Steve, Jennifer, Christopher, Rebecca. Great-grandchildren: Troy, Demi, Jade. Esther is also survived by many nephews and nieces in CA and OK. Everyone loved her dearly.

She loved her family more than anything and was proud of each and every one of them. Her greatest joy was taking care of her family and cooking for them. She enjoyed talking to her family and friends, gardening and word search games. Esther also loved her travels with the Vogue [motorhome] Country Club across the Untied States. She always considered Pedro her home. But she did love her house and yard in Grants Pass. She loved to feed the squirrels and enjoyed watching them eat peanuts and chase each other. Esther always had a great sense of humor.

Interment will be at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA next to her amazing husband. A funeral service will be held there on April 7th at 11 am.


"God saw you were getting tired
and a cure was not to be,
so, He put his arms around you and
whispered, “Come with me.”
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
and saw you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.
It’s lonesome here without you,
we miss you more each day.
Life does not seem the same,
since you have gone away.
When days are sad and lonely
and everything goes wrong,
We seem to hear you whisper,
“Cheer up and carry on.”
Each time we see your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
“Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping.
We’ll meet again someday.”