ABOUT ME
I am a retired Lutheran (LCMS) pastor living in Bellville, Texas, married to Beth Walters Franke, a retired public school librarian. My hobbies include sailing, amateur radio (WB5RFQ), traveling, reading, and writing, especially poetry.
I am a member of Poetry Review and Discuss. I have had several of my poems published in the PRD anthologies: The Poetic Bond II, III, IV and V. I was a member of The Society of American Poets before it disbanded in 2013. I have had many poems published in their quarterly journal, The Poet's Pen. I have also "indie published" three books of my poetry: The Stream of Life (2011), See the Train Come through Our Town (2012), and Christmas Cheer (2012). I have published three other books: From the Bottom of the Barrel, C. B. Franke, 2005; In Her Steps, Ellen Beatrice Franke Richter, 2015; and The Things I Tell You are Honestly True, 2nd Edition, C. B. Franke, 2016.
I grew up in Uvalde, TX. and graduated from Uvalde High School ('64), Texas Lutheran University, Seguin TX ('68), and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis MO ('72). I served as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harrold TX.; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Brenham (William Penn) TX.; and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Bishop, TX., where I retired in September 2009. I completed 2 1/2 years as part time interim pastor with Trinity Lutheran Church, Sealy, TX. in July 2015, and continue to do interim and pulpit fill ministry.
Gilbert A. Franke
130 N Harris Street
Bellville TX 77418
g(dot)a(dot)franke(at)gmail(dot)com
