Rev. Ronald R. Francis, PhD, 81, was received into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, February 10, 2023. He graduated from Curtis High School, Staten Island, New York City, NY, in 1959. He completed all of his undergraduate and graduate work in Arizona receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Arizona in 1973. He accepted a position in Hawaii working for a hydroponic farm and later worked for the Delmonte Pineapple Corporation in their research department. He met the love of his life when their pastor, Dennis Kastens, and his wife, Alice, invited them to lunch one Sunday. He was to teach their son, Mark, how to tie his shoe laces as both were left-handed. They often joked about how their relationship started out on a shoestring. They were married on November 10, 1974, at the chapel on Hickam Air Force Base. They left Hawaii in 1980 to answer the call into the holy ministry. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1984. He served his entire 21 years of ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Haven, IN, until his retirement in 2005. While active in ministry, he served as a circuit counselor and also served on the board of L.A.I.M. (now Lutheran Senior Care Ministry). Following retirement, he conducted weekly chapel services in three area nursing homes. He has served as the spiritual advisor for the Fort Wayne Area Chapter of Lutherans For Life since his retirement. He and Marilyn "Lynn" headed their Life Ministry at Concordia. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening and taking care of all his indoor plants. He also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lynn, brother Jerry (Janie), son Jonathan, grandchildren Matthew (Ariadna), Hannah (Brandin) and Samuel, great-grandchildren Isabella and Rowan Schwartz and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents Walter and Marjorie (Day), sister Marjorie, brothers Donald and Walter (Kathleen). Service is 11 am, Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Concordia Lutheran Church, 4245 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. until the service. Burial at Concordia Cemetery Gardens. Memorials may be made to Lutherans For Life or Parkview Hospice. FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.fairhavenfortwayne.com