James Francis English, "Francis," 86, of Wallace, NC, went to be with the Lord peacefully and on his own terms, while surrounded by close family at home on Sunday, March 21, 2021.

Born July 3, 1934, in Duplin County, Francis was the second son of Roscoe Forrest English and Bertie Mae English (Brinson).

After completing his service in the Army, he married the love of his life, Judy English (Sandlin) on December 22, 1958. They lived together in Wallace throughout their marriage, where he worked as a plant engineer at Stevecoknit Fabric Co. (formerly J.P. Stevens & Co.), retiring after 33 years.

He loved hunting, fishing, raising bird dogs, going to breakfast with cherished friends and tending to his land on the Northeast Cape Fear River. He could fix anything and was a self-taught computer whiz. Over the years, he captured thousands of photos, which he shared with any and every onlooker by shouting "Come here, let me show you somethin'!" from his computer room.

With his wife, Francis spent some of the happiest years of his life traveling the United States by van — Hawaii was his only state left untraveled because "he wouldn't float and he wouldn't fly." In his later years, he liked to say that he traveled the entire world through endless hours of exploration on Google Earth. But his favorite place was home, which he built, repaired and rebuilt after multiple hurricanes and floods.

When his family thinks of him, they will think of countless trips to the river by four wheeler; hours of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, M*A*S*H and The Virginian reruns; country and bluegrass music playing on maximum volume; and navy, khaki or grey Dickies coveralls.

Francis is survived by his wife of over 62 years, Judy; his son, Terry English of Beulaville; his daughter, Nanda English Rogers and husband Bill of Concord; his brother William "Billy" English and wife Cliss of Wilmington; his sister Jean Ingram and husband Jimmy of Kinston; his brother Charles R. English and wife Edith of Wallace; his granddaughter LeAnna Brinson and husband Jay of Jacksonville; his grandson Trevor English and fiancé Kendall Sorrell of Beulaville; his granddaughter Rachel Rhodes of Brooklyn, NY; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and his beloved canine companion, Pepper. He is preceded in death by his brothers Kenneth English and Forrest English.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 3 p.m. at the English family cemetery adjacent to 4442 South NC 41 Wallace, NC, 28466. A visitation and fellowship with the family will immediately follow at the Northeast Volunteer Fire Department, where Francis was a founding member in 1968, located at 4486 South NC 41 Wallace, NC, 28466.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK, 73123; by calling 1-800-227-2345; or by visiting www. cancer.org . Memorial donations may be also made to Community Home Care and Hospice Foundation at 126 E. Elizabeth St. Suite B, Clinton, NC, 28328.

Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the English Family.