Franklin Sexton Jr., 70, a former executive of John Sexton & Co., served in a number of buying, selling and management positions over 40 years for the national food service distribution company, headquartered in Lisle.
A resident of Winnetka and Singer Island, Fla., he died Monday in Palm Beach Gardens Hospital, North Palm Beach, Fla.
His grandfather, John Sexton, started the food company in 1883, delivering coffee, tea and food to hotels and boarding houses in Chicago by horse and wagon.
A graduate of the University of San Francisco, Mr. Sexton later received an MBA from the University of Detroit. He served in the Army during World War II.
He joined the family company in the late 1940s and worked in sales before being sent to San Francisco to build a manufacturing and packaging plant there. He was then moved to Detroit, where he managed a branch of the firm and operated its chemical plant that produced detergents and soaps.
He subsequently returned to the Chicago area and served as an executive of the firm, retiring in 1989.
He was on the board of the Tea Association and was a member of the Preservers Council, made up of representatives of firms that manufacture, supply or sell preserves and jellies.
Mr. Sexton was also a past member of the Boy Scouts of America council serving the northern suburbs.
”He was a true gentleman, quiet, elegant and urbane,” a family member said. ”He was very unassuming and nice to everyone.”
Survivors include his wife, Denise; two sons, Franklin III and John III;
two brothers; and a sister.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.
Mass for Mr. Sexton will be said at 6 p.m. Monday in Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity Catholic Church, 191 Linden St., Winnetka.