SMSgt. Philip Edward France

SMSGT Philip “Pepe” France, 82, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Services will be 11:00 am on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Laurel Land Funeral Home Chapel of Chimes. Burial will follow in Laurel Land Memorial Park with full military honors. Friends are invited to join the family for a time of visitation on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Philip Edward France was born May 19, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, one of four children born to Harry France and Betty Line France. “Pepe” was very patriotic his entire life. He joined the United States Air Force and served more than 29 years before retiring on November 1, 1979. During those 29 years he served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Philip married Marilyn I Klieman on July 21, 1954. To this union was born one son, Michael France. She preceded him in death on November 10, 1957. He married Joy A. Cheek on October 11, 1961. To this union was born two daughters, Sheila and Dee Ann. She preceded him in death on March 12, 1989.

Pepe had a passion for life in all he did and was very social. He was a 33 degree Mason at the Star In The West Lodge, a member of the Moslah Shrine Temple, and a member of the Longhorn LOW RV club. He was a clown with the Shriners and spent a lot of time entertaining children.

Mr. France was preceded in death by both wives and by all three siblings, Roy France, Idell Abrams, and Lawrence France. Survivors include his children: Michael France and his wife Gina, Sheila Blankenship and her husband Kevin and Dee Ann France, grandchildren: Brandy Underwood, Sherri Miller, Adam France, Nicholas Blankenship, Amy Blankenship, and Michaela France, and eleven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorial are encouraged to the following charities: Shriners Hospital at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org, Animal Hope no kill shelter at www.animalhope.org, or Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.