Obituary for William M France
William Monroe France, age 88, died peacefully at his home at Deep Point on the Nomini on January 6, 2019. Billy was born in Havelock, VA, to Berlie France and Marie Marks France on July 26, 1930. He graduated from Warsaw High School in 1947. On July 21, 1962, he married Myrtle Lee Dean. Together, they raised two daughters, Rebecca and Mary Scott.
Billy completed 27 years of service at Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. The major part of his time was with the Weapons Systems Department working in the ordnance field as a Supervisory Mechanical Engineering Technician supervising tradesmen and technicians engaged in design, fabrication, assembly and disassembly of ammunition, test and analysis of gun component mechanisms and devices, mounts, conventional prototype and experimental weapons.
Billy was a member of Newland Church of Christ and was a faithful attendee of Nomini Baptist Church. He was also a member of Westmoreland Masonic Lodge No. 212 for 52 years and was a charter member of Rappatomac Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, serving as the Treasurer for many years.
Billy was known for his sense of humor, infectious smile, and his kind and humble spirit. He had a passion for the outdoors and could often be found hunting or fishing. In his later years, a favorite pastime was making fishing lures, which were shared with family and friends. He had a love of southern gospel music.
Billy was preceded in death by his father, Berlie, and his mother, Marie. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Myrtle Lee , his two children, Rebecca France and Mary Scott Coffey (David), his sister, Betty Battaile, his two grandchildren, Benjamin Garrett and Erin Yvonne Coffey, nieces, Catharine Dean, Michelle Thurston and Anne Garner, and nephew, Garrett Dean. His life lives on in the family he left behind.
The family will greet friends from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Welch Funeral Home in Warsaw, VA. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Nomini Baptist Church in Montross, VA at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Virginia chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5540 Falmouth Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230 or http://www.lls.org/virginia.
Billy completed 27 years of service at Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. The major part of his time was with the Weapons Systems Department working in the ordnance field as a Supervisory Mechanical Engineering Technician supervising tradesmen and technicians engaged in design, fabrication, assembly and disassembly of ammunition, test and analysis of gun component mechanisms and devices, mounts, conventional prototype and experimental weapons.
Billy was a member of Newland Church of Christ and was a faithful attendee of Nomini Baptist Church. He was also a member of Westmoreland Masonic Lodge No. 212 for 52 years and was a charter member of Rappatomac Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, serving as the Treasurer for many years.
Billy was known for his sense of humor, infectious smile, and his kind and humble spirit. He had a passion for the outdoors and could often be found hunting or fishing. In his later years, a favorite pastime was making fishing lures, which were shared with family and friends. He had a love of southern gospel music.
Billy was preceded in death by his father, Berlie, and his mother, Marie. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Myrtle Lee , his two children, Rebecca France and Mary Scott Coffey (David), his sister, Betty Battaile, his two grandchildren, Benjamin Garrett and Erin Yvonne Coffey, nieces, Catharine Dean, Michelle Thurston and Anne Garner, and nephew, Garrett Dean. His life lives on in the family he left behind.
The family will greet friends from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Welch Funeral Home in Warsaw, VA. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Nomini Baptist Church in Montross, VA at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Virginia chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5540 Falmouth Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230 or http://www.lls.org/virginia.