James "Fran" Francis Meddleton

Born on April 30, 1939, son of the late Ken and Eileen (Lenz) Meddleton, Fran grew up on Beacon Street in Port Dickinson, overlooking the Chenango River. Fran and Ann raised their own family on Beckwith Avenue in Hillcrest, a half mile from Fran’s childhood home, where they bought a home in 1966.

Fran truly “never left home.” He literally spent his 83 years between Beacon Street and Beckwith Avenue, and there was never, never, anywhere on earth that he wanted more to be. His final resting place will be at Chenango Valley Cemetery, close to home and where, he said, he will be able to hear the trains go by forever. Fran lived a life of faith, family, work, and his beloved golf. Fran and Ann enjoyed a wonderful and caring circle of friends throughout their lives. One of their life’s pleasures was watching SU basketball and being at the Dome for many games over the years. Together, Fran and Ann always gave everything and themselves to the well-being of their sons and grandchildren. They were always there, ready with a warm welcome, and as a constant reminder of love, sacrifice, and strength. Fran is survived by his wife, Ann; son Jim (Jeanne) of Albany; son Bob (Kim) of Port Dickinson; grandchildren Jimmy, Matt, Meghan (Ryan), and Malori, and great granddaughter, Saoirse; brothers Richard (Ehrline) of Arkansas and Mike of Tennessee; sister-in-law Georgian Leonard of Ithaca; sister-in-law Lisa Meddleton of Thonotosassa, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Bill; mother and father-in-law Anna and George Leonard; and brother-in-law, Joe Leonard. For nearly four decades, Fran was employed at the former Ansco-GAF-Anitec-International Paper plant off Clinton Street in Binghamton.

Especially in younger years, Fran fished many area streams and rivers, looked forward to deer season, and enjoyed a little duck hunting. He knew his way around a card game, a pool table, a Let It Ride table, a bowling alley, and, above all, a golf course. No one took deeper pleasure in sitting at the bar, especially with his sons, listening to a Sinatra song, tinkering around in his basement workshop, or sitting on the back patio on late summer afternoons with a cold can of Genny, looking out over a freshly cut lawn and the sheds that held his lawnmowers and other favorite toys. But Fran discovered his everlasting joy on and around the golf course. Ann bought him his first set of clubs shortly after they were married in June 1961, a Wilson Sam Snead model, and, she says, laughing, “I bought him the clubs and I never saw him again!” Eventually Fran found his way to Genegantslet Golf Course in Greene, where he became a regular, spent some of his best golfing days and, for many years, worked the Pro Shop. He always remembered Genny as the place where he found some of the greatest people and greatest laughs of his life. Fran was asked once, “What did you want to be when you grew up?” He hesitated, grinned, and said, “Arnold Palmer.” There was never a more loyal member of Arnie’s Army. A lefty before there were many left-handed golfers around, Fran was a very good player, great from 150 yards in, and simply the best putter – using a knock-kneed stance he copied from his hero Arnie – his sons ever played with.

He leaves his sons with the love of golf. They hold in their hearts the many rounds they played and the fairways they walked with their dad at Genny, State Park, Fire Fox, Turning Stone, Winged Foot, Augusta National, and many other courses. When the azaleas and dogwoods bloom again every April at the Masters, he will be watching with them. Fran was a lifelong parishioner of the former St. Catherine’s, now St. Francis of Assisi in Hillcrest. His faith sustained him. He lived it as a family man, a workingman, a good neighbor, and a person of common decency and fairness to those who crossed his path.

Fran’s faith told him that we will meet again. That is our great hope now. Rest in peace Fran, rest in peace Dad, rest in peace Grandpa, rest in peace Great Grandpa, we love you and we will miss you.

Family and friends will gather for a funeral service at St. Francis of Assisi in Hillcrest on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 10 a.m. The family’s admiration, gratitude, and respect go out to all the nurses and caregivers on Floor 3R and Hospice at Lourdes Hospital. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorial contributions to Lourdes Hospice, 4102 Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850 or to the Broome County Humane Society, 167 Conklin Avenue, Binghamton, NY 13903 in Fran’s name.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WmRChase.com for the Meddleton family.