1923
Harold
2008
Harold F. Francis
November 11, 1923 — January 13, 2008
Harold F. Francis, 84, of Upton, died Sunday, January 13, 2008 in the University Campus of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after being stricken ill at home. He and his wife, Dorothy M. (Wellman) Francis, would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in March.
Mr. Francis was born in Milford, one of ten children of the late William and Florence (Sellon) Francis. A resident of Upton for most of his life, he graduated from Upton High School with the Class of 1941, where he played basketball and was a member of the first Upton team to win the Clark Tournament.
He was a Technical Sergeant with the Army Air Corps who was shot down over Germany and became a Prisoner of War during World War II, and was a member of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War. A foundry foreman at the former Draper Corp. in Hopedale until its closing, he then worked for Bay State Abrasives in Westboro and as a custodian at Memorial School in Upton until retiring.
Active in Upton community affairs, he served for 25 years as a volunteer fire fighter and six years on the Board of Selectmen. He coached Little League baseball for several years and was a member of the United Parish of Upton, where he sang in the choir for 30 years. An avid golfer, he belonged to the Hopedale Country Club for many years. He was also an enthusiastic Red Sox fan, loved bowling and fishing, and enjoyed attending Upton Men's Club dinners and Senior Center breakfasts.
In addition to his wife, he leaves a son, Harold "Pete" Francis, Jr. and his wife Jeanne of Douglas; his daughter, Mary Hurlburt and her husband Ken of Upton; a daughter-in-law, Betty Francis of Upton; one sister, Barbara Allen of Upton; 5 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Another son, David Francis, died in 2005. He was also the brother of the late Thomas, Arthur, Charles, Orrin, William, and Herbert Francis, Harriet Jurentkuff, and Irma Prentiss.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the United Parish Church, Box 382, or to the Upton Ambulance Fund, Box 29, both Upton, MA 01568.
in the United Parish Church, Central Square, Upton.
Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family in Lakeview Cemetery.
There are no public calling hours.
Mr. Francis was born in Milford, one of ten children of the late William and Florence (Sellon) Francis. A resident of Upton for most of his life, he graduated from Upton High School with the Class of 1941, where he played basketball and was a member of the first Upton team to win the Clark Tournament.
He was a Technical Sergeant with the Army Air Corps who was shot down over Germany and became a Prisoner of War during World War II, and was a member of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War. A foundry foreman at the former Draper Corp. in Hopedale until its closing, he then worked for Bay State Abrasives in Westboro and as a custodian at Memorial School in Upton until retiring.
Active in Upton community affairs, he served for 25 years as a volunteer fire fighter and six years on the Board of Selectmen. He coached Little League baseball for several years and was a member of the United Parish of Upton, where he sang in the choir for 30 years. An avid golfer, he belonged to the Hopedale Country Club for many years. He was also an enthusiastic Red Sox fan, loved bowling and fishing, and enjoyed attending Upton Men's Club dinners and Senior Center breakfasts.
In addition to his wife, he leaves a son, Harold "Pete" Francis, Jr. and his wife Jeanne of Douglas; his daughter, Mary Hurlburt and her husband Ken of Upton; a daughter-in-law, Betty Francis of Upton; one sister, Barbara Allen of Upton; 5 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. Another son, David Francis, died in 2005. He was also the brother of the late Thomas, Arthur, Charles, Orrin, William, and Herbert Francis, Harriet Jurentkuff, and Irma Prentiss.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of the United Parish Church, Box 382, or to the Upton Ambulance Fund, Box 29, both Upton, MA 01568.
Service Details
A memorial service will be held Friday, January 18, at 11 a.m.in the United Parish Church, Central Square, Upton.
Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family in Lakeview Cemetery.
There are no public calling hours.
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