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Obituary for Donald Hazen Francis
Donald Hazen Francis went home to be with The Lord, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at the age of 80. He and his wife Lois (Bartlett) were married for 53 happy years. Don is survived by his children Mike (Debbie), Dawn Corbitt (Chris who died in 1996), and Jim (Kim), his grandchildren Melissa (Joshua) Bush, Alexis Corbitt, Aleah Francis, Sean Corbitt, Jimmy Francis, Elizabeth Francis, Mikayla Francis, and 6 week old great granddaughter Adalyn Renee Bush.
He is also survived by his siblings Betty Wade, Marilyn Frenk, Shirley Acheson and his twin Ronald (Barbara) Francis. Donald has 17 nieces and nephews and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Donald was born in Oxford, the second of twins, in the family farmhouse on Davison Lake Road to Hazen and Luella (Smith) Francis. He graduated from Oxford High School, class of 1949. He and Ron took flying lessons together, owned his own Aeronca Champ airplane, and he never lost his passion for flying and airplanes. In 1951, Don and Ron joined the navy and served in the Korean war for four years, stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and on the aircraft carrier, USS Randolph. His early work years included painting for his father-in-law, Robert Bartlett, at Bartlett Paint and Glass, and American Aggregates, which was the site for the first gravel pit in Oxford, started by Don’s grandfather, W.O. Smith. When Don was later laid off from National Twist Drill, he painted and wallpapered for many years for his own company, Don Francis Painting.
He attended OCC and received an associate degree from St. Clair County Community College, then attended seminary at the Garrett United Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He was ordained as Deacon of the United Methodist Church and was a Pastor in the UMC for 20 years, serving at Thomas, Jeddo, Central Lakeport and Fowlerville churches. He retired from the ministry in 2000 and resided in their home in Oxford since. He and Lois have attended Rochester First Assembly of God church with their children since their retirement. Don was former Chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol in St. Clair County and was a member of Rotary International in Fowlerville and Oxford, and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Funeral from Rochester First Assembly of God, 4435 N. Rochester Rd, Rochester, Mi 48306, Wednesday March 14, 2012 at 11 AM with a luncheon to follow at the church immediately after the service. Friends and family can visit at the church starting at 10 AM. Interment Ridgelawn Cemetery, Oxford.
Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors Bossardet Chapel, Oxford Monday March 12, 2012 from 6-8 PM and Tuesday March 13, 2012 from 2-8 PM.
Memorials may be made to the Rochester First Assembly of God to support the missionary work.
