Robert Mumford Francis

Robert Mumford Francis, age 92, of Fort Washington, MD passed away on August 6, 2020. Born on August 26, 1927 in Durham, NC to the late William Burnette Francis [6-22-1980 ~ 11-17-1939] and Louise Allgood (Brown) Francis [2-4-1890 ~ 9-10-1983]. Robert's father worked for the Southern Railroad and died in Richmond VA while on assignment, leaving the family to support each other. Robert worked different job's as a paperboy, delivery milk door to door from a horse drawn wagon and worked in a Durham department store. He left early from Durham High School with a G.E.D. to join the US Navy June 11, 1945 trained to be an aircraft mechanic and assigned to many navel bases around the US. Aug. 24,1948 was discharged as Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd and WWII Victory Metal and returned to Durham, NC. April 1949 he joined the US Air Force as a aircraft mechanic again traveling to bases around the US and missions to Japan and Iwo Jima during the Korean War returning to the US to Bolling AFB Wash. DC later to Lawson AFB GA. where he met Margy Hannan from Ansonia OH, who was visiting family stationed there. Dating for two months they married in Durham, NC Aug. 26, 1953 and returned to Lawson AFB. Later Robert was transfer to Pope AFB NC. living in Sanford, NC where son, Darrell was born. Robert was sent on a mission to Germany later returning to move the family to Southern Pines, NC where son, Michael was born. They lived in four apartments in the town as the family's needs changed. The last year Robert was sent on a mission to Vietnam in 1963. Returning Robert was transfer to Andrews AFB Camp Springs, MD. and found a home in now Fort Washington MD. area. He worked in Hanger One in Maintenance Control advising other aircraft mechanics. He was missioned to Thailand during the Vietnam War. Returning he retired as a Master Sgt. from the US Air Force Sept. 30,1969. Later he went to work for C&P Telephone Company as a lineman retiring Jan. 1990. Later years he worked with friends from the phone company doing construction and cleaning and maintenance at the Broadview Baptist Church Temple Hills MD. where he and the family were members. His enjoyed talking about his antics and situations from his childhood to his adulthood his time in the Navy and Air Force and the phone company and his later years. Survived by his wife of 66 years, Margy Hannan Francis; sons Darrell K. Francis and Michael L. Francis (Deborah); grandchildren, Melissa Francis, Jeremy Francis, great-grandchildren, Layne Francis, Zoey Rice (Ange); step-granddaughter, Amanda Helsley (Nathan) and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Robert is also preceded by his siblings: William Burnette Francis Jr (10-7-1920 ~ 4-11-1979) Marvin Anthony "Skeeter" Francis (1-10-1922 ~ 7-24-1982) Catherine Louise Francis (8-10-1923 ~ 9-1-1924) Martha (Francis) Brown (6-22-1925 ~ 9-3-2002) Margaret Azile (Francis) Hurst (5-20-1929 ~ 9-28-2016) To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert Mumford Francis please visit our Sympathy Store.