WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Billy E. Francis, 76, of Williamsburg, Va. passed away at home on Thursday, November 5, 2009, surrounded by family and friends. It was a sorrowful end to a long, difficult struggle with cancer. Born on August 23, 1933 in Tacoma, Wash. to the late Edward and Goldie Francis, his parents returned to their home in Grundy, Va. soon after he was born where Bill and his sisters, Betty, Anna June and Susie were raised.

Seeking prospects outside of Southwest Virginia, Bill moved to Newport News, Va. where he graduated from the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School in 1956. After a brief return to Grundy, he returned to the shipyard where he worked as a machinist for 20 years until accepting a position with Phillip Morris in Williamsburg. He retired in 1993 and pursued his passion for collecting and selling tools, finishing his long-awaited projects and spending time with his family and friends.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Helen Johnson, in 1953 and celebrated their 56 year union on November 2, 2009.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife, Helen; three children: Son, Eddie and wife, Colleen, of Orlando, Fla. (Maria, Olivia, Thomas, Christopher, Olivia), son, David and wife, Laura, of Chesterfield, Va. (Matt, Will, Oliver, Jennie), daughter, Lisa Kellis and husband, Tom, of Williamsburg, Va. (Jessica, Robby, Tommy, Tahnee, Kory); sisters, Susie Yates and husband, Buford of Grundy, Va., Betty Trent of Vansant, Va. and Anna June Mann of Warsaw, Ind.; also survived by seven great-grandchildren; extended family and lifelong friends.

Grandpa will be thought of often and missed so much.

The family will receive friends Sunday, November 8 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home with interment following at Peninsula Memorial Park in Newport News, Va.

Information provided by Shortridge-Ramey Funeral Home of Grundy, Va.

To leave personal condolences online, visit www.legacy.com