1917
Leslie
2009
Leslie Paul Francis
March 25, 1917 — August 9, 2009
Harlingen, TX:
Leslie Paul Francis passed away peacefully on August 9, 2009, in Harlingen, Texas.
He is survived by his loving children, Leslie Francis Craighead of Reno, NV; Ann Francis Miller of Kansas City, MO; Paul Sanders Francis of Houston, TX and Martha Francis Lodigiani of San Jose de Mayo, Uruguay; their spouses Whitney F. Miller, Sabra S. Francis, Roberto J. Lodigiani; ten grandchildren, Paul Hogan, Molly Holiday, Marianne Burchard, Flagg Miller, Frazier Miller, Philip Francis, Marjorie Francis, Catherine Lodigiani, Stephen Lodigiani and Andrea Lodigiani; seven great-grandchildren: Sierra Hogan; Aleese and Zoe Holiday; Max Miller-Bloom; Carson, Everett and Shaw (born August 9, 2009) Miller; numerous nieces and nephews and many dear friends in Artesia, New Mexico and Harlingen, Texas.
Paul was born March 25, 1917 in Aliceville, Alabama. He attended Marshall Jr. College and University of Alabama, where he was a member and president of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received his LLB degree in law in 1941. While attending the University of Alabama, Paul got his pilot’s license under a special government program. Even though he had an Alabama law license, he went to work as a civilian flight instructor eventually being enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served until 1946. Following the war, Paul entered the family cotton compressing business. Along with his father and brother, Paul brought cotton compresses to the Pecos Valley and to the Rio Grande Valley. He managed presses in Artesia, NM; Tulia, TX; and, Harlingen, TX. He was a director of the People’s State Bank in Artesia, NM which subsequently became part of Western Bank, then Compass Bank.
He married college sweetheart Aleese Campbell in Welsh, LA, June 18, 1942. They lived, in succession in Greenwood, MS; Griffin, GA; Dallas, TX; Timpson, TX; Artesia, NM and Harlingen, TX. Their loving marriage spanned 63 years until Aleese’s death in 2005. Paul was active in Rotary, served as a deacon and served on the session of the First Presbyterian Church in Artesia, and in Harlingen. He enjoyed golf, bridge, flying, reading, travel and dancing with his beloved Aleese.
A memorial service will be held in the Texas Room at Golden Palms, 2101 Treasure Hills Blvd., Harlingen, at 4pm, Thursday, August 13.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Artesia, NM, or to the First Presbyterian Church of Harlingen, TX.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Lucy Garcia, Josie Gonzales, Robert Gonzales, Oscar Aguilar, Alfredo Torres and especially Lalo Sandoval, all of whom filled Paul’s last years with friendship and care.
Leslie Paul Francis passed away peacefully on August 9, 2009, in Harlingen, Texas.
He is survived by his loving children, Leslie Francis Craighead of Reno, NV; Ann Francis Miller of Kansas City, MO; Paul Sanders Francis of Houston, TX and Martha Francis Lodigiani of San Jose de Mayo, Uruguay; their spouses Whitney F. Miller, Sabra S. Francis, Roberto J. Lodigiani; ten grandchildren, Paul Hogan, Molly Holiday, Marianne Burchard, Flagg Miller, Frazier Miller, Philip Francis, Marjorie Francis, Catherine Lodigiani, Stephen Lodigiani and Andrea Lodigiani; seven great-grandchildren: Sierra Hogan; Aleese and Zoe Holiday; Max Miller-Bloom; Carson, Everett and Shaw (born August 9, 2009) Miller; numerous nieces and nephews and many dear friends in Artesia, New Mexico and Harlingen, Texas.
Paul was born March 25, 1917 in Aliceville, Alabama. He attended Marshall Jr. College and University of Alabama, where he was a member and president of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received his LLB degree in law in 1941. While attending the University of Alabama, Paul got his pilot’s license under a special government program. Even though he had an Alabama law license, he went to work as a civilian flight instructor eventually being enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he served until 1946. Following the war, Paul entered the family cotton compressing business. Along with his father and brother, Paul brought cotton compresses to the Pecos Valley and to the Rio Grande Valley. He managed presses in Artesia, NM; Tulia, TX; and, Harlingen, TX. He was a director of the People’s State Bank in Artesia, NM which subsequently became part of Western Bank, then Compass Bank.
He married college sweetheart Aleese Campbell in Welsh, LA, June 18, 1942. They lived, in succession in Greenwood, MS; Griffin, GA; Dallas, TX; Timpson, TX; Artesia, NM and Harlingen, TX. Their loving marriage spanned 63 years until Aleese’s death in 2005. Paul was active in Rotary, served as a deacon and served on the session of the First Presbyterian Church in Artesia, and in Harlingen. He enjoyed golf, bridge, flying, reading, travel and dancing with his beloved Aleese.
A memorial service will be held in the Texas Room at Golden Palms, 2101 Treasure Hills Blvd., Harlingen, at 4pm, Thursday, August 13.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Artesia, NM, or to the First Presbyterian Church of Harlingen, TX.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Lucy Garcia, Josie Gonzales, Robert Gonzales, Oscar Aguilar, Alfredo Torres and especially Lalo Sandoval, all of whom filled Paul’s last years with friendship and care.
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