Obituary

Dieudonne Passman
December 4, 1921 - September 7, 2018



Dieudonne Buford Passman, age 96 and a resident of Franklinton, died Friday afternoon September 7, 2018 at his home. He was a 1939 graduate of Franklinton High School before joining the United States Air Force. Dieudonne served his country during World War II as a radio operator/communications specialist while being stationed in Guam and Germany, before returning to the States and being stationed in Illinois, Keesler AFB in Biloxi, and New York. Upon retirement, he returned to Franklinton where he began a long career as the newsman for the WFCG radio station, where his voice was heard daily throughout Washington Parish. Dieudonne was an avid golfer and was instrumental in the formation of the Franklinton Country Club while also serving as the first President. He helped to literally build it from the ground up as he installed the electrical wiring for the very first buildings on the course. He also was an avid gardener and made a vegetable garden of tomatoes, squash and cucumbers each and every year. Dieudonne was a historian of the town of Franklinton and had done an extensive genealogy of the Sylvest family of Washington Parish. He was raised in Sunlight Baptist Church as a young man and after retiring from his military service and later became a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Franklinton where he was active in the church choir and senior adult choir.

Survived by: 2 Daughters and Sons in law: Dr. Connie Jean Porter and Keith Porter of Hammond, Dr. Carol Passman of Washington State; 2 Sons and Daughters in law: Charles “Chuck” and Linda Passman of Tampa, FL, Craig and Leslie Passman of Pensacola, FL; 6 Grandchildren and their spouses; Numerous great-grandchildren; Sister: Maxine Passman Spracklen of Franklinton; Brother in law and Sisters in law: Jerald “Jerry” and Charlotte Samples, Jeanette Maulding all of Marietta, GA; Also numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years Geneva “Jean” Samples Passman and his parents Evander Frank “Toye” Passman and Harriet Bond Passman.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home Wednesday September 12th from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 am Wednesday with Rev. Joey Miller officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Sunlight Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to the First Baptist Church of Franklinton Senior Adult Choir (950 Self Street, Franklinton, LA 70438)