Mark Virgil Francom

Tremonton, UT ? Our sweet, loving father and grandfather, Mark Virgil Francom, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2009 from natural causes. His body slowly wore out after 94 years of active life.
Virgil was born May 20 1915, in Elwood, Utah, the son of Joseph William and Mary Ann Cole Francom. He was the ninth and last surviving child in a family of ten children, seven boys and three girls.
Virgil graduated from Bear River High School in 1923. He served an LDS mission in the Northern States. While serving in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he met Virginia Helen Stoler. Following his mission, he returned to Indiana, they courted, were married February 14, 1938. They moved to Utah where they were sealed in the Temple. They were blessed with four daughters. During WWII the family moved back to Indiana where he worked for General Electric making tools for the war effort. Returning to Utah, Virgil purchased the family wheat farm near Snowville and settled his family in Tremonton. On May 25, 1960, his wife, Virginia died of cancer.
He married Mildred Drake Lindsey June 15, 1962, bringing three lovely daughters to the family. At the age of 65, he retired and he and Mildred moved to North Ogden, then to Palm Springs, St. George, and finally Salt Lake City. They found each move to be an enjoyable experience, always making new friends. Mildred died January 3, 2004.
Virgil was a man of great faith and active all his life in various Church callings. For a period of 22 years he was either a bishop, in a bishopric or a high councilman. He was a teacher and a great example. Eight of the men called to serve with him served as bishops. He especially enjoyed working with the Young Men, using campfire settings to teach them the gospel and took pride in their successful lives.
Virgil loved music and sang in a beautiful tenor voice. While a young man in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he sang on the city?s major radio station. He sang on church assignments and at funerals. He especially enjoyed hearing his four daughters sing together.
Virgil is survived by seven daughters: Sunny Lindsey Payne, Philadelphia, PA; Tamera Francom, Richmond, VA; Sally Lindsey Woodward Arlan Brazil; Vicki Francom Pierson Dallis Australia; Wendy Francom Houck Jerry, Salt Lake City, UT; Jan Lindsey Woolley Craig, Park City, UT; and Dawn Francom Cutler Bruce-deceased, North Ogden, UT. He has 30 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, and two great, great-grandchildren. Virgil spent his life in loving service to his family, friends and Heavenly Father. He will be missed and forever loved.
Our family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to Cheri Uzzel, Dee Horne, and the entire staff at Alta Ridge in Holladay for the extraordinarily tender expressions of love and care given our father in his last difficult days. A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 30, 2009 2:00 p.m. at Tremonton 1st Ward Chapel, 166 North Tremont Street, Tremonton with Bishop Wayne C. Larsen officiating. Family and friends may call from 12:00 noon to 1:40 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at the Tremonton Riverview Cemetery.