BARBARA A. FRANCIS

Barbara Ann Francis, "Boots", 85, of Piqua died Saturday September 3rd, 2016 at Ohio's Hospice of Dayton. Barb was born on December 28th, 1930, in Covington OH to the late William Henry Bowman and the late Hilda Naomi (Kindell) Bowman-Warner (survived by Ralph Warner). She married Robert Edward Francis on August 7th, 1954 at the Piqua Evangelical United Brethren Church. Barbara is survived by husband of 62 years, Robert, sister Marilyn Wiggins, TX, and sister-in-law Karen Bowman, SC. She was preceded in death by her brother, Wilfred Bowman, and her father- and mother-in-law Virgil and Elizabeth Francis. Her three children are daughter Pamela (Gerald) Francis Goodson, Columbus, OH, son Jeffrey (Tonia) Francis, Piqua, OH, and son Matthew (Catherine) Francis, Berkeley, CA. Her seven grandchildren are Brian (Nikki) Francis, Liz (Dana) Elmquist, Bridget (Mark) Bergey, and Ryan Francis, and her great grandchild is Lillian Francis. She leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.

Barbara graduated from Troy High School in 1948 and Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She also attended Otterbein College. She worked as a registered nurse at Stouder Memorial Hospital, farmed with her family, volunteered on the Brown Township EMS squad, and worked for the Farm Service Agency and many other farm organizations. She was a former president of the Miami County Farm Bureau, a supervisor of the Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District, and a member of the Associated Country Women of the World. She was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and Bible school, led the Youth Fellowship Group, and had several additional leadership roles. She loved travel, mushroom hunting, flowers, nature, books, and helping her friends and family. She will always be remembered as a caring spouse, kind mother and grandmother, and active member of the community that she loved. She will be deeply missed.

Services will be held at 10:00AM on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at the Baird Funeral Home, Troy, with Reverend Maggie Sykes officiating.  Interment will follow in Miami Memorial Park, Covington, OH.  The family will receive friends prior to the service from 5:00-8:00PM on Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Miami County, P.O. Box 502, Troy, OH 45373.  Friends may express condolences to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com.