Franklin Lee Plank, Sr., age 78, of Shelby, passed away Friday, March 7, 2014, at his residence. A native of Bluff City, TN he is the son of the late John E. Plank Sr. and Vergie Lee Hicks Plank. He had worked as a truck driver for most of his life and retired from Turner Trucking Company. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and worked in the Army Corp of Engineers for 13 years. He loved Dale Earnhardt racing, the Dallas Cowboys, John Wayne, and really loved driving his truck. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by four brothers, John Plank Jr., Paul Plank, G.L. Plank, and H.C. Plank; three sisters, Shirley E. Plank, Margaret Elizabeth Turner, and Sarah E. Roberts.  

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betty Rolle Plank of the home; four daughters, Wanda Ruth Dean of Shelby, Barbara Ann Buchanan of Wilmington, NC, Monika P. Barnes of Charleston, SC, and Rosa Faber and husband Georg of Germany; one son, Franklin Lee Plank Jr. of Greensboro; one sister, Molly Ball of Winston-Salem; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Visitation: 5:00 – 6:00pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at Cleveland Funeral Services

Funeral: 6:00pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at Cleveland Funeral Services Chapel

Burial: Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery

Ministers: Dr. Tim Sims

Donations: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Dr., Shelby, NC 28150.

FUNERAL HOME:  Cleveland Funeral Services & Crematory