Obituary of Francis R. Nownes

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Francis R. Nownes

October 21, 1916 - October 28, 2010

Hampton Union, Sunday, October 31, 2010

[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]

HAMPTON — Francis "Frank" Roby Nownes, 94, beloved husband and father, went peacefully to be with his Lord on Thursday, October 28, 2010, at his home in Hampton.

He was born in Exeter, October 21, 1916, a son of the late George F. and Roby Ann (Oram) Nownes and the brother of the late Trueman F. Nownes.

Frank attended Exeter schools, including the Emerson School in Exeter, before graduating from Hampton Academy with the class of 1936. He was also a graduate of the Salem, Mass., Commercial School in 1939.

Mr. Nownes was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army with the 112th General Hospital Unit. He was shipped overseas aboard the British Steamship Aquitania and returned home on the Queen Mary with 17,000 fellow soldiers.

After returning home from World War II, Frank went to work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, working his way up to industrial manager and supervisor of shop stores. He retired in 1980 as a GS11 with 40 years of service.

Mr. Nownes was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church of Hampton, serving as deacon, trustee, financial secretary and choir member. He was most recently a member of the First Baptist Church of Exeter and a choir member. He was also a 50-year honoree member of the Hampton American Legion Post 35 and a charter member of NARFE Chapter 1790.

Frank loved the outdoors and working his land, always gardening, splitting wood, building rock walls and beautifully maintaining his property. He enjoyed his many trips to Europe, especially returning to Scotland and England, where he served.

He shared 61 wonderful, loving years with his wife, Allaire (Blake) Nownes.

In addition to his wife, he will be greatly missed by his five children and their families, Bonnie Hightower of Hampton, Jennifer Duclos and her husband Aimé of South Berwick, Maine, Harry R. Nownes and his wife Ginger of York, Maine, Jinny Downes and Michael Sawyer of Concord and Roger Nownes and his fiancée Jacqueline Gentile of Salem. Frank had seven grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Ryan and Colby Downes, Forest Nownes, Larry Claus, Jared Nownes, Lisa Flynn, Bryan Duclos, and six great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, November 5, at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 7, in the First Baptist Church, Exeter. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. After cremation, interment will be private. Family flowers only.

If desired, donations may be made to the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation, 4410 19th St. N.W., Rochester, MN 55901-6624, or to the First Baptist Church, 2 Spring St., Exeter, NH 03833.

www.RemickGendron.com.

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