Francis Wesley Judd, son of Walter Wesley & Sarah (Gower) Judd, was born March 10, 1931 on a farm in Phillips County, Kansas and he died October 12, 2011 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 80.

Francis attended a one-room country school in Phillips County through the eighth grade. On August 24, 1948, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army. He earned the rank of Sergeant, serving until June 18, 1952, when he was honorably discharged.

On July 6, 1957, Francis married Margaret Louise Simmons in Phillipsburg, Kansas. The couple was blessed with the birth of three sons: Delvan, Mark and Wesley.

Francis worked for the U. S. Postal Service for 37 years, spending most of those years as a rural mail carrier. For the first decade of delivering mail, he drove cars on his route that he had personally rebuilt. He enjoyed many types of mechanical work, particularly cars, and he tried to instill the importance of routine maintenance to his boys. His frequent words of advice were, "You can let your car run out of gas, but never drive your car without oil!" These words were usually spoken with an oily rag in one hand and empty oil can in the other.

In his youth, Francis also enjoyed rebuilding motorcycles. He restored several Harley Davidson bikes and a couple of Indian brand motorcycles in the days before it was really "cool" to ride a Harley. He sold the last motorcycle he built in order to fund a special project -- building a house. With a little ingenuity and a lot of hard work, he built the home with his own hands where he & Margaret raised their family and where he resided until his death.

Francis also had a fondness for bluegrass and country music. He often talked about listening to the "Grand Ole Opry" on the radio as a child. Two of his favorite singers were Hank Williams and Bill Monroe, but he enjoyed most of the old-time country western music. He also taught himself how to play the guitar, mandolin and fiddle and passed along that love of music to his children and grandchildren.

His parents, Walter & Sarah, and his sister, Lila Waterman, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons, Delvan of Phillipsburg, KS; Mark of Great Bend, KS; and Wesley of Abilene, KS; sister, Annabelle Hunziker, of Phillipsburg; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 17, at 2:00 p.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Josh Foster officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Phillips County, with military honors by Fort Riley.

Visitation will be Sat. & Sun. from noon – 9 p.m. at the chapel. Online condolences may be sent to: www.olliffboeve.com.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.