Obituary: Woodrow Wilson Francis, 96 of Middletown

Woodrow Francis, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. He was 96.

Born in Holmdel on Nov. 7, 1916, on the day Woodrow Wilson was elected the 28th President of the United States, he was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Francis. The Francis family farm, later the Laura Harding Estate, is now Bayonet Farm, a Holmdel Twp. Park.

Woody, as his friends knew him, was a lifelong resident of Middletown. He graduated with honors from Middletown High School in 1935. He was Manager of John L. Hendrickson's Old Wagon Farm for some 40 years, retiring in 1980. He served as Botanical and Horticultural Consultant for Middletown Twp. from 1981-1990.

Woody was a man of deep and constant faith. He served as Vestryman, Deacon, Sunday School teacher and Trustee of First Baptist Church in Middletown. He was also Deacon of First Presbyterian Church-Tower Hill in Red Bank. He served as Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 35 in Middletown.

He had a sharp wit, lucid memory and analytical mind. Not wanting to be left behind by technology, he got an Apple computer at age 84 and enjoyed exchanging e-mail with friends.

He was predeceased by his brother, Kenneth, and also by his dear companion, Edna Till of Port Monmouth. He is survived by two nephews, Clyde Francis of Fayetteville, NC, and Kenneth Francis III of Bentonville, VA, and also a niece, Sandra Francis Neal of Australia.

The arrangements are by Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, ThompsonMemorial@aol.com.

Visiting will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013.

There will be a funeral service at 11 a.m., followed by interment at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank, NJ 07701.