William Joseph Francis was born Sept. 14, 1924 to Howard K. and Lauretta M. Gingery Francis. He died June 22, 1995 and is buried in the Ames Municipal Cemetery, Ames, IA.
Sgt. Francis served with the U.S. Army in World War II in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation ribbon with one bronze star and bronze arrowhead.
His Obituary:
William Francis, 70, Ames, died June 22, 1995, of cancer at his home in Ames. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Ames, with Rev. Joseph West officiating. A scripture service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday with visitation following from 7 to 9 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames. Burial will follow at the Ames Municipal Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Ames American Legion, Post No. 37.
William Joseph Francis, son of Howard and Lauretta Gingery Francis, was born September 14, 1924, in Dubuque. He was a plumber by trade. He enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and served as a Tech. No. 4, while stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He was awarded a Philippine Liberation ribbon with one bronze star and bronze arrowhead. On July 2, 1949, he married Patricia Ann Boozell in Webster City. In 1959, he moved with his family to Ames.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Francis, Ames; daughters, Colleen Francis, Petaluma, Calif., Susan Francis, Ames, Jill Kieran, San Pablo, Calif.; sons, Robert Francis, Kelley, David Francis, Ames; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; aunt, Evelyn Smith, Webster City. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Francis was a member of the St. Cecelia Catholic Church. He was an Executive Board and Military Squad member of the American Legion Post No. 37, a member of the V.F.W. No. 674, the 40-Voiture Locale No. 285, the Sons of the American Legion Squad No. 37, and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 2230. He was also an active member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union No. 33.
Memorials may be left at St. Cecelia Catholic Church and will go toward the purchase of a flagpole for the grade school and to the V.F.W. No. 674 and the American Legion Post No. 37.
~Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - June 23, 1995
Source: ancestry.com
