| Bio | January 23, 1942 - February 3, 2024
It is with great sorrow the Francis Family shares the passing of our brave, loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, David Blain Francis, 82, of Kansas City, MO on Saturday, February 3, 2024. Millions of tears were shed that day as he left his broken body and ran to the waiting arms of his Savior for all eternity. The hope of Glory became a reality.
David was born January 23, 1942 to Kenneth and Mildred (Feiser) Francis in Independence, MO. He was a member of the first graduating class of Van Horn high school in 1960. He attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, MO.
David had a life long love for Railroads as he was allowed to join his grandfather, Louis Francis, in the SantaFe Switch Tower where he watched as his grandfather pulled the switches and received train orders to safely route trains. Following college, David began his career in Transportation and would fulfill a lifetime dream of working for and with the Railroads. His career started with Checkerboard Grain as a Traffic Clerk. From there, he worked in Tracing, Steno and Chief Clerk positions for the Wabash, Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt Railroads. He moved from Chief Clerk at the Cotton Belt back to Southern Pacific in his first professional Sales position. After leaving the Railroad, he continued in Sales for Logistics Companies encompassing Fleet Management, Freight Audit and Payment, Transportation Management, Freight Brokerage and Freight Forwarding. All companies still were closely tied to Railroads.
He was involved in the local Traffic and Transportation Club serving a term as its President. He maintained active contact with a group of retired Railroad and Transportation colleagues who met regularly. They collectively shared a treasure trove of knowledge of mid-century Railroad and Transportation.
He will be remembered as someone who committed large portions of Scripture to memory and invested his life in sharing it with others: family, friends, co-workers, people he encountered on the street, to the passenger next to him on an airplane - where his fear of flying made him a passionate witness.
He had a special heart and compassion for bringing the Gospel message to the downtrodden or forgotten. As he retired, he began volunteering at the Kansas City Rescue Mission (now shelter KC), where God used his casual and accepting nature to minister to those who were homeless and overcoming addictions.
His greatest satisfaction came in working as a mentor with Crossroads Prison Ministries. As he reviewed his prisoners’ responses to their Bible study worksheets, he not only provided insight and correction to their answers, but related to their personal stories giving encouragement and committing to praying for them. During the twelve years he worked as a mentor, he discipled 300 individual students and often spoke of how much he was ministered to as well.
He was Preceded in death by his parents, David’s legacy is carried on by his wife of 45 years, Lynne; his children, Brad Francis (Christine), Scott Francis (Rhonda), Ridley Thomas, Lindsay Vanderhorst (AJ); his adored grandchildren, Jordan, Lauren, Alexandra, Jacob Francis; Aidan, Asher, Ezra, Miles, Flannery, Gwendolyn Vanderhorst; his brother Lou Francis (Kathy).
The warmth, wisdom and joy he brought to family and friends will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
A Celebration of Life will be hosted — details being determined |
