Ronald Reed Franke

Ronald Reed Franke, affectionately known as Kapaw, passed away on March 5, 2026, in Buda, Texas, at the age of 87. A resident of Buda for more than six decades, he was born on December 31, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas. Ron’s life was shaped by his deep devotion to family, his sharp ingenuity, and a broad range of interests that touched everyone around him.

A proud graduate of Beaumont High School, Class of 1957, and Texas State University in San Marcos, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961, Ron began his career at the IBM office in Austin. His entrepreneurial spirit soon led him to earn his real estate license and establish his own successful brokerage. In his personal time, he became an avid researcher of family genealogy and took great satisfaction in restoring antique furniture, pocket watches, and clocks. For more than thirty years, his meticulous attention to detail found expression in numismatics, where he built a respected collection of rare and antique coins. He was also a longtime member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and other organizations dedicated to preserving Texas history and heritage.

Ron’s creative talents were evident in the beautiful stained glass pieces he crafted by hand. Known within his family as the one who could repair or restore almost anything, he approached every project with patience and skill. A devoted viewer of “Jeopardy,” he engaged with the show daily and held special admiration for its original host, Alex Trebek.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Billie Ferguson Franke; his son, Ronald Reed Franke, Jr.; his parents, A.W. Franke and Bernice Hawkins Franke; his brother, Wayne Franke; and his sister, Gethrel (Franke) Bradfield. Ron is survived by his son Mark Franke and wife Jaimee Borger; grandsons Stuart Franke and wife Laura Miletello, and Philip Franke; granddaughter AnnaMarie Dodson; and great-grandson Theodore Franke, son of Stuart and Laura. His inquisitive mind, resourceful hands, and loving heart left a lasting impression on all who knew him, and his memory will endure in the stories and skills he passed down through his family.