Elton Francis, 92, Iola, formerly of Colony, passed away Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, at Allen County Regional Hospital, Iola.
Everett Elton Francis was the first born child of Ira and Pearl (Scott) Francis on Oct. 22, 1921, in LaHarpe. He grew up on the family farm east of Le Roy, attending country schools and then graduated from Le Roy High School. He then entered the United States Army where he served in the 68th Medic Division. He served in the South Pacific for 33 months during World War II. Following the War he returned to the family farm and worked in construction in Ottawa. Elton then returned to the family farm where he and Myrtle started their family. The family later moved to Westphalia where Elton was a city Marshall, and began working for the Anderson County road department. In 1956 they moved to Colony and he began operating a road grader. Elton worked as a custodian for Colony Schools and then for Nichols Oil Company. He returned to operating a road grader for Anderson County and retired after 33 years.
After retirement he volunteered for many years at the concession stand for the Little League ballgames. He and Myrtle enjoyed this very much. They also raised a large garden each year, sharing with neighbors and friends. A favorite pastime was making rugs on a loom. Over the years, he instructed many area 4-H kids in making rugs for the county fair. He enjoyed seeing the kids win ribbons at the various fairs.
Elton served on the Colony City Council for many years, and attended the Rural Water meetings for Colony. He was a member of Kincaid Veterans of Foreign Wars. Elton was baptized in the Pacific Ocean by a missionary while serving in Guadalcanal.
Elton was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Scott, in 2009.
He is survived by his wife, Myrtle; two daughters, Janila Preston and husband, Lewis, Uniontown, and Kloma Buckle and husband, Richard, Colony; three grandchildren, Teresa Hall, Bronson, Melissa Hobbs and Tom Buckle, Colony; eight great-grandsons, Sage and Brock Hall, Nate and Gabe Berry, Brody Hobbs, Levi, Blake and Noah Ashmore; and one sister, Olive Carpenter, Iola.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Colony. Following burial in the Colony Cemetery, the family will greet friends at the Colony Community Room. Memorial contributions may be made to the Colony Fire Department or the Colony Little League Association and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Elton Francis
