E. Francis “Fran” Nolin, loving husband of the late Doris C. Nolin, passed away March 20, 2018. Fran was born on July 15, 1925 in West Springfield, MA. He was predeceased by his father, Isaac Nolin, mother, Beatrice Nolin and sister, Beatrice Allard.
Fran and Doris were married on May 3, 1952, had five children together and raised their family in Agawam, MA. Fran proudly served our country in the Navy during WWII. After his service, he attended Clark University, obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree and was the star pitcher for their baseball team. From there, he began his career as a life insurance underwriter for Mass Mutual, where he stayed for the next 33 years. Fran was very active in his children’s lives, serving as the Agawam Cub Scout Master of Pack 89 and President of the Agawam Little League. Family, he would often say, was his greatest accomplishment. He loved to golf, go camping and brought his family to many memorable locations including, Washington, D.C., Opryland, Virginia Beach and Yankee Stadium, where he would enjoy watching his beloved New York Yankees. After retirement in 1986, they moved to Florida, settling in Winter Haven, where he worked part-time for Publix and also became a crossing guard for the Polk County Schools. Members of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, they quickly became very involved. Fran joined the Knights of Columbus, earning the honor of 4th Degree Knight, became a lector, head usher and a eucharistic minister. Fran loved to sing and was a member of the Polk County Haven Harmony Barbershop Chorus as well as the baritone for The Happy Campers Barbershop Quartet.
Fran leaves behind his son, James and wife Lillian of Dundee, FL, son Jeffrey and wife Deborah of Wesley Chapel, FL, son Gary and fiancée Kimberly of Santa Clarita, CA, daughter, Kimberley Davis and husband Rock of Lehigh Acres, FL, and daughter Michele Love and husband Brad of North Port, FL.
Additionally, he leaves his sister, Frieda Mantha, grandchildren Diana, Jeffrey, Christopher, Marissa, Frank, Henry, Mary Claire, Olivia, Heather, Robert and Melissa and great grandchildren Ethan, Tristan, Asher, Liam and Giana. Fran was loved by everyone he came in contact with and will be greatly missed by all.
Visitation on Tuesday, March 27th, from 8:45am-9:45am at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home with Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 10am both in Winter Haven, Florida and burial to follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Fran’s name to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research Foundation.
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