Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Franklin, Booth Wirtz 1930
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Ionia Sentinel, June 26, 1930

Ionia Sentinel, June 26, 1930

Obsequies For Former Ionia Boy Are Held - Military Burial Accorded Booth Wirtz 
Franklin, Well-Known Actor, Following Solemn Requiem High Mass At Church.

The mortal remains of Booth Wirtz Franklin, a resident of this city during his 
youth and early manhood and more recently enjoying extensive popularity as an 
actor in the legitimate stage world, were laid to rest Thursday morning in a 
quiet spot in Mt. Olivet cemetery here.  Chanting of prayers by vested 
clergymen was mingled with the firing of guns and the blowing of taps, 
symbolizing honors accorded by a nation to its wartime defenders.

The obsequies at the graveyard followed the offering of a Solemn Requiem High 
Mass by the Rev. Fr. Herman Fedewa, of Howell, at the Church of SS. Peter and 
Paul at 9 o’clock.  The Rev. Fr. Fedewa was assisted in the Mass by the Rev. 
Rd. A. Krams, of Westphalia, as deacon, and the Rev. Fr. Charles Wettstein, of 
this city, as subdeacon.  Gerald Banhagel was master of ceremonies, aided by 
the acolytes.

Booth Wirtz, as he was more familiarly known to his home town friends, died 
suddenly last Saturday evening in New York city subsequent to an attack of 
acute appendicitis that developed into peritonitis following an operation.  He 
had been attracting public acclaim for his rare knowledge of the fine arts of 
the dramatic world when death intervened to cut short a life that to all 
indications was destined to be accorded a high pinnacle of histrionic success.

Booth had added training received at Carnegie Technical institute to his early 
elemental training received here and had succeeded rapidly in his art, both on 
the movie screen and the stage, appearing in “Treasure Island” and numerous 
other screen productions before his more recent achievement as a member of the 
cast of “The Miracle,” stage extravaganza that commanded a long run in Detroit 
and other larger cities.  He had … [unreadable lines] … before being stricken 
with illness that resulted in his passing.

In his sermon, the Rev. Fedewa, a classmate of Booth’s at the Academy here 
years ago, devoted much time in reviewing the characteristics Booth had 
developed in childhood about Ionia, which gradually grew into a steadfast love 
for things esthetic and of nature in its true, God-given state.  Acquirement of 
pecuniary wealth, he said, meant but little to Booth, other than as an aid 
bringing about success in his chosen art.  His whole life and soul were 
engulfed in his profession, his home ties, his faith, and his country.  

The body, reposing in a flag-draped metallic casket and escorted by members of 
Company H, 126th Infantry, was borne to its last resting place by a half dozen 
former schoolmates, including Carl Kramps, of Lansing; Frank Weiczorek, Louis 
Agostini, Martin D. McNamara, George Slowinski, and George R. Banhagel.

The numerous floral testimonials were supervised by Mrs. H.L. Wever and Mrs. 
Ted Bloomer.

The church was taxed to capacity by friends and acquaintances who joined with 
the relatives in paying their last respects to Booth.  Booth was the foster son 
of Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Wirtz, and the eldest of several children in the 
family.  They reside on West Main street.


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