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William R. Francis

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | November 29, 2022

William R. Francis, age 78, of McKeesport, died November 27, 2022, at home. Born December 3, 1943, in Charleston, SC, he was the son of the late Oliver L. Sr. and Queen (Rivers) Francis and Life Partner of Donna Knight. William retired from the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory and opened his own business, Francis INSight Market, on Locust Street in McKeesport. William served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a Golden Glove Champion and also boxed while in the Army. He enjoyed testing his luck with scratch-off tickets, and many knew him from around McKeesport from gathering and scrapping materials. William was a member of the St. Paul AME Church in McKeesport and the Prince Hall Masonic Temple.

In addition to his life partner, William is also survived by children, Tony (Pamela) Francis, Juan (Bernadette) Francis, Ahmad (Audra) Francis, Tish (Greg) Jackson, and Leona Knight; eleven grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; siblings, Sara Lee Lane, Frank Francis, Marty Francis, Warren Francis, and Eleanor Francis. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by siblings, Oliver, James, Jonathan, Alfonso, and Gwen Francis. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the St. Paul AME Church, 1350
Locust St. McKeesport, PA 15132. The funeral service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul AME Church. Burial and military honors will follow at McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.willigfuneralcremationservices.com.
Charles Danforth, Supervisor

Originally published November 29, 2022.

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