Obituary of William K. Francis

William K. Francis Dundee, NY/Wellsboro, PA: William K. Francis, age 82, of Dundee, NY, and Sarasota, FL, formerly of Wellsboro, PA, died Wednesday October 1, 2014 in the comfort of his cottage on Seneca Lake. The family will receive friends from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Monday (Oct. 6) at the Tyoga Country Club in Wellsboro, PA; where a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. with his brother in law John Cwynar officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Deane Center for Performing Arts, P.O. Box 102 Wellsboro, PA, www.deanecenter.com; or to the Dundee United Fund P.O. Box 15 Dundee, NY 14837. William was born February 16, 1932 in Youngstown, OH, the son of the late William and Derotha Kroeck Francis. He graduated from Hornell High School in 1950; and from Bucknell University where he was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity, receiving his Bachelors Degree in Commerce and Finance in 1954. He also received degrees in Banking from the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard. Bill married his college sweetheart the former Vaughn Richart in 1955; they were married for 43 years before she passed in 1998. He served active duty from 1955-1957 in the U.S. Navy, and in the reserves until 1961. Bill retired in 1996 from Citizens and Northern Bank, in Wellsboro, where he was employed for 38 years with 25 of those as President and Chief Executive Officer. He was Chairman of the Board for the bank even into his retirement years. On his birthday Feb. 16, 2001 in Sarasota, FL he married the former Joyce C. Clark. They have enjoyed summers on Seneca Lake, and winters in Sarasota ever since. Bill was a member of the Pennsylvania Bankers Assoc. where he served as president for many years; and was an avid golfer and member of the TYOGA Country Club in Wellsboro, PA., serving as President there for many years. He is survived and will be missed by his wife of 13 years Joyce C. Francis at home; his son William B. (Louise) Francis of London, England; his daughter Barbara A. Banks of Sapphire, NC; his wife's children whom he loved as his own, Patricia A. (Daryl) Avery of Enfield, NY, Jacqueline A. (Guy) Close of San Diego, CA, Carol L. (Jerry) Zigl of Plum Tree, IN, James C. Burnham of Newfield, NY, Joyce A. Burnham of Watkins Glen, NY; 4 grandchildren Shelby Banks, Traci Jones, Jennifer Close, and Maria Zigl; a sister Dorentha (John) Cwynar of Hornell, NY; and several nieces and nephews. Arrangements in New York were entrusted to the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water Street, Dundee. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.