Francis, Nola, 79, of Christiansburg, VA, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2010.
She was born Nola Jane Marcum in Pike County, Kentucky on September 24, 1931, the only daughter of Lewis and Goldia Mullins Marcum. After graduating from Belfry High School in Belfry, Kentucky, she married Walter Francis and subsequently had two daughters.
In 1963, the family relocated to Christiansburg, VA, where Walt opened the Southwest Virginia branch of Leatherwood Dairy. For almost a decade, Nola worked side-by-side with Walt as office manager for Leatherwood. In the early 1970’s, Walt and Nola moved briefly to Florida and then back to Christiansburg. They settled on West Main Street and lived there for 25 years.
In the mid 1970’s, Nola had a successful real estate career for several years before retiring to care for her elderly parents. In the early 1980’s, Walt and Nola established a small business in Christiansburg, The Hose House. In 1998, they moved to Carson Drive, where they enjoyed several years of retirement before Walter passed away in 2003.
Nola is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lana and David Tucker, of Roanoke, VA, her daughter, Linda Francis, of Pinole, CA; her grandson and grand-daughter-in-law, Harth and Mary Tucker and great-grandson, Carson Tucker, of Christiansburg, VA; and her grandson, Joseph Tucker, of Cambridge, MA.
The family will receive friends from 6p.m.-8p.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at the Horne Funeral Home. A funeral service conducted by Rev. Sandy Webb will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 29, 2010 in the Horne Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, VA.