Florence Francis

Florence Irene (Roberts) Francis was born August 25, 1920, to Marion and Lizzie (Mustard) Roberts, the oldest of six children, in Davis County, Iowa. She lived her early life in the Bloomfield, Iowa area where she graduated from Troy High School and later Bloomfield Junior College with a teaching certificate. It was during her college days that she met Oscar Francis whom she married on Christmas Eve in 1945, upon his return from WWII. Their son, Terry, arrived in 1955. Florence was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt as well as daughter and sister.

Florence was a founding member of the Landmark Baptist Church. She led a colorful and interesting life from farm girl, to ordinance plant worker to homemaker, with quite a variety of jobs in between. Her personality matched her red hair and her independent disposition. Until the spring of this year, she lived on her own, still driving downtown to do errands and attending church.

Florence died on Monday, December 14, 2015, at the Rose Vista Nursing Home in Woodbine, Iowa at the age of 95 years, three months, and 19 days.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oscar Francis; son, Terry Lee Francis; granddaughter, Sara Francis and siblings, Earl and Richard Roberts and Kathleen Charbonneau and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Linda Francis of Logan, IA; grandson, Andrew (Amber) Francis and their sons, Stephen and Caleb all of Wahoo, NE; granddaughter, Anna (Matthew) Allen and daughter Alexandra all of Neola, IA; brother, Stanley Roberts of Logan, IA; sister, Darleen Roberts of Bloomfield, IA; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ronnie (Grace) Francis of Eddyville, IA, Janice (Galen) Sleeth and Lorene Francis all of Bloomfield, IA, Enid Roberts and Maxine Francis both of Oskaloosa, IA; and many other relatives and friends.