Mr. Wakeland

Retired Staff Sgt. Franklin L. Wakeland, 79, of Killeen died March 31, 2008, at a local hospital.

Funeral services are April 4 at 2 p.m. at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen with Chaplain Capt. Douglas Kay officiating.

The body will be cremated following the service.

Mr. Wakeland was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Iowa, to Joseph and Mamie Wakeland.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the beginning of World War II, and later served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to the Army where he served more than 20 years during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Mr. Wakeland's military awards include an Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, four Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.

Mr. Wakeland retired in 1971 at Fort Sill, Okla. After moving to Killeen in 1980, he worked as a plumber, security guard and finally as a data collector for Peco Enterprises on Fort Hood.

He then was self-employed as a saw and blade sharpener.

Survivors include his wife, Susie Wakeland, of Kempner; sons, Robert L. Wakeland, of Killeen, Michael E. Wakeland, of Darmstadt, Germany, and Shane Brown, of Lampasas; daughters, Evelyn Bragg, of Chandler, Okla., Inge P. Newport, of Burkville, and Diana L. Kabello, of Youngsville, N.C.; a brother, Joseph Wakeland, of Joy, Ill.; a sister, Cheryl Engle, of Aledo, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

Arrangements by Harper-Talasek Funeral Home of Killeen.