Paul K. Francis

Paul K. Francis was a devoted husband, father, son, and brother who was beloved by his family and community. He served as a civil engineer for 35 years in the Susquehanna Valley, from Baltimore to Harrisburg. After a long battle with melanoma, Paul passed away at home on August 27, 2016, surrounded by his family. Paul was born in Philadelphia, PA to parents George A. Francis and Ruth K. Francis in 1954. During the 1970s and 1980s, he attended Pennsylvania State University to study surveying technology, water resources engineering, and environmental pollution, and was awarded the Charles P. Hary scholarship in 1979. For 32 years he worked as a civil engineer in the private sector, where his projects ranged from Fort Meade and Honeygo Boulevard to the Kent Narrows Bridge and Conowingo Dam. During the latter portion of his career, Paul served Harrisburg as the City Engineer, where he was also briefly appointed the Interim Director of Public Works. His contributions to Harrisburg included a re-design of the city emergency evacuation plan and the overseeing of major renovations of water and road systems. Though his professional accomplishments were many, Paul was proudest of his beloved wife and family. Through a mutual friend in Baltimore, he met Ofrecina Piedra, who is originally from Peru. They married on July 5, 1985 in Bel Air, Maryland and later had two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. Paul’s devotion to his family knew no bounds. He was known to wake up at 3 AM to arrive for coffee with his mother in Philadelphia by 7, or to race a forgotten homework paper 3 hours away to State College or Millersville. He would often wake up his wife so she wouldn’t miss a particularly beautiful sunrise. Paul contributed endlessly to his community, serving as Council President at St. John Lutheran Church and as State Director of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. He mentored and trained countless young engineers and oversaw the regional youth Math Counts and bridge building competitions. Paul took pleasure in every moment in life, and his love for nature led him to cycling, hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. He rode the Seagull Century (100 miles) in 2012, and despite the effects of his cancer and its treatment, he continued to cycle along Pennsylvania’s Rail Trail until 2 months before his death. Paul delighted in watching the birds in the morning over his cup of coffee, and even engaged in conversation by playing bird calls from his phone. Paul is survived by his wife, Ofrecina P. Francis; daughters, Elizabeth R. and Sarah C. Francis; future son-in- law, Alexander K Allen; brothers, George W., Andrew A., and Steven P. Francis; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Memorial Website: https://sites.google.com/site/paulfrancismemorial/