NEWPORT, – On Monday, November 25, 2024, Francis Nelson Chambers, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 93. Francis was born in June of 1931, to Mary Anna (Langley) Chambers and Morrill W. “Frank” Chambers in Newport, NH. Francis joined the Army on January 4, 1949, and served until being honorably discharged on August 20, 1952. During his time in active duty, he was stationed in post-WW2 Germany and Japan, before being stationed in Korea as a truck driver during the Korean War. He received the Korea Defense Service Medal in the early 2000s for his service.
On February 22, 1957, he married Patricia Alice (Blake) Chambers and they raised three daughters, Teresa, Pamela, and Kathleen; two sons, Duane and Patrick; and two grandchildren, Stephanie and Derek. Francis and Patricia were married for 63 years, residing in the home he built for her in Newbury, NH.
He saw the Great Hurricane of 1938 nearly destroy Newport, NH, and was almost pulled from his home by the wind. His mother passed when he was 9 years old and he was raised by his sisters Irene, Alice, and Bernice. He dropped out of school in 7th grade to work at Dorr Woolen Mill in Newport, NH. At 18 he would join the Army, hitchhiking from Newport, NH to Rutland, VT to begin basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
He would become one of the finest machinists doing quality control of parts for aerospace and power generation, working at GLOENCO his entire career. He could multiply and divide fractions and decimals (and convert them from one to another) in his head on the fly. Easily the smartest person we’ve ever known. He was an avid hunter and carpenter who loved camping in the White Mountains and drove his family cross-country several times over his lifetime, once in a VW Beetle with 5 children. It’s a wonder to think of the changes he saw in his 93 years on this earth.
Francis is predeceased by his wife, Patricia, daughter Teresa Chambers, and sisters Irene Simoneau, Alice Bunker, and Bernice Sheridan. He is survived by their children Pamela, Kathleen, Duane, and Patrick, and grandchildren Stephanie, Derek, Bryce, Keegan, Madison, Kent, Kellen, Karly, April, Becca, and Nick, as well as several grandchildren.
Francis’ funeral service will be held at Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home in Newport, NH on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 11 am. In place of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association (heart.org).
