Francis D. Twombley 1937-2009

TWOMBLEY, KAIN, THEUS

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 10/21/2009 at 12:10:10

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa October 14, 2009)

TWOMBLEY, Francis D. (Don), 72 of Newport News, Virginia, died October 8, 2009 at the Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Newport News. Funeral services were held October 11 at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News, VA. Burial was directed by Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon, Iowa at the Leon Cemetery on October 13.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa October 14, 2009)

FRANCIS D. (Don) TWOMBLEY ... Francis D. Twombley, known as Don to his friends, lost a courageously fought battle with leukemia and went to sleep in Jesus on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, with his family by his side. Don was born on August 15, 1937 in Osceola, Iowa and had lived in Newport News for four years. He was a chemist who had spent most of his working years in industry and in 1991 moved to Farmville, VA. He earned a masters Degree in Science Education at Longwood University and worked there as Lab Director and Hazardous Waste Manager in the Chemistry Dept. for the years before his retirement in 2005.

Don served as a medic in the 101st Airborne Division and the 77th Special Forces Unit from 1956 to 1959. He later became a private pilot and had a love for flying that lasted until the end of his life. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and was a very talented auto mechanic. He liked to do anything outdoors and would plant any kind of seed just to see what would grow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Louree Twombley; two brothers, William and Everett, and a daughter Rebecca Lynn.

Most of all, Don loved his family and left to mourn his passing are his wife of 53 years, Barbara; one son, David of Ft. Myers, FL; two daughters Deborah Theus of Calhoun, GA and Frances Kain of Lanexa, VA. he considered his son-in-law, Mark Kain, as a dear son also. There was never a telephone call or a request from any of his family that wasn't immediately answered and fulfilled if he could possibly help in any way. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Christopher Twombley, Rebecca, Molly and Sarah Theus, Bonnie, Dale, Nicholas and Mary Catherine Kain, who were the special lights of his life; and a brother, Richard and his wife, Mildred, of Lamoni, Iowa.

Don was an active member of the Newport news Seventh Day Adventist Church and had a deep and abiding love of god. He instilled this love in every member of his family through the high moral example he set with his life. He will be greatly missed by his church family as well.