Charles "Ed" Francis

NORMAL, IL - Charles “Ed” Francis, 71, of Normal, passed away at 6:43 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at The Wealshire Nursing Home in Lincolnshire, IL.He was born April 28, 1938 in Three Oaks, MI, son of Milton and Leona Jensen Francis. He married Carolyn Nash on August 14, 1970 in Bloomington, IL.Surviving are one daughter, Carrie Francis of Wauconda, IL; one sister, Janet (Albert) Buller of Battle Creek, MI; one sister-in-law, Nancy Francis of Three Oaks, MI and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Francis.Ed was a United States Army Veteran.He received a Bachelor and Master of Science from Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo, MI, and his Doctorate from the University of Missouri at Columbia.Ed was a professor at Illinois State University, Department of Industrial Technology in Normal, for over thirty years, retiring in 1997. He was an international expert on alternative energy sources.Ed was active in The Rotary Club and the Sister Cities Association. He was a skilled archer and a member of The United States Parachute Association. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at East Lawn Funeral Home in Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, also at the funeral home. Entombment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington.Memorials may be made to the family, who will designate a donation site. Online condolences may be submitted to www.EastLawn-Bloomington.com.