OBITUARY: George F. "Fran" Dillon Jr.
George F. "Fran" Dillon Jr., 77, a lifelong resident of Kemp Street, Groton, died Saturday, February 15, 2014, at Nashoba Valley Medical Center , Ayer.
Fran was born in Groton on October 6, 1936 and until his death resided in the house on Kemp Street his grandparents owned and where is mother and her eight siblings were born. He was the son of George F. and Helen M. (Cronin) Dillon.
Following his graduation from Lowell Technological Institute, Fran served his country on active duty in the United States Air Force and continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves until he retired as a Lt. Colonel twenty six years later. While stationed at Westover Air Force Base, he served as the Chief of the Fire Department.
For more than 40 years, he worked in the paper manufacturing industry. He began in the Fitchburg area at Fitchburg Paper and Litton Industries before his job brought him to Valentine Paper Company in Lockport, Louisiana . He retired in 2001 as the company president.
He leaves his wife of 53 years, Janet E. (Payer) Dillon; two sons and daughters in law, Chris S. and Kathleen Dillon of Billerica, Brian P. and Brenda Dillon of Milford; his daughter, Kerry E. Flanagan of West Groton; nine grandchildren, Kelsey Hampton, Brian Dillon Jr., John Flanagan, Cameron Dillon, Myles Maloney, Robert Flanagan, Shelby Maloney, Alice Dillon, Andrew Dillon and a great granddaughter, Norah A. Hampton.
For many years Fran remained active in local political circles, serving three terms on the Groton Board of Selectmen as well as Groton Finance Committee. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Groton Country Club. He enjoyed his summers at Nubble Light in Maine with his family as well as his faithful 4-legged companion, J.T. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace worshipping at St. James Church. He was an avid reader, enjoyed working on crossword puzzles and seemed to be always working in his yard or in his garden.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 AM Friday, February 21 at Our Lady of Grace Parish worshipping at St. James Church, St. James Avenue, West Groton. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ayer.
Calling hours are 3-7 Thursday at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, (Rte 2A) Ayer. Please see www.andersonfuneral.com for additional information.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Community Children's Fund at 173 Main Street, Groton, MA 01450; Groton Community Foundation P.O. Box 515, Groton, MA 01450 (note on memo line, Blood Farm Emergency Assistance Fund) or to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
