Francis B. 'Franny' Bartsch Sr., 85

WARWICK, MD. - Francis B. "Franny" Bartsch Sr., of Warwick, Md., died June 10, 2008, in Christiana Hospital in Newark. He was 85.

Mr. Bartsch was born on Feb. 17, 1923, in Talleyville, son of the late Frederick T. and Anna Talley Bartsch.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II in the European Theatre. Franny had owned and operated the Fieldsboro Farm in Townsend for 38 years and in 1989 moved to his current farm on Wards Hill Road, raising dairy and beef cows and horses.

He had worked as a truck driver with Getty Oil through Teamsters Local 326 in Wilmington for 18 years. He enjoyed woodworking, rebuilding horse carts and wagons and was a member of the Delmarva Driving Club.

Mr. Bartsch is survived by his wife of 59 years, Florence Ashworth Bartsch; three children Francis B. "Franny" Bartsch Jr. and his wife Carol of Warwick, Doris J. Wooleyhan and her husband Richard "Dicky," of Mt. Pleasant, and Wayne K. Bartsch and his friend Margaret "Peggy" Enfield of Warwick; a brother Frederick Bartsch Jr. of Wilmington; a brother-in-law Walter C. Ashworth of Townsend; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Monday at in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St. Galena, Md., where friends may call one hour prior. Burial will be in Townsend Cemetery.

Memorials may be offered to Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 326, Cecilton, MD, 21913.