Final Salute

George David Francues Obituary

Commander George David Fraunces III December 20, 1936 – July 15, 2020

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to George and Anne Fraunces.

George graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep in 1954, Villanova University in 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering and Stanford University in 1969 with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering.

Upon graduation from Villanova, he was commissioned as an officer joining the U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps.

Soon after graduation, he married his one love, Rosemary Flood, also of Philadelphia, raising 3 sons and 1 daughter who blessed them with 9 grandchildren.

George spent 20 years serving at numerous duty stations including Spain, Newfoundland, Vietnam, Panama and Puerto Rico – all documented in his memoir, The Lighter Side of Service 20+ Years with the Navy Seabees published in 2018. He served as the U.S. Navy’s Civil Engineer to Latin America and commanded NMCB 133 based in Gulfport, Mississippi. At heart, George was a builder — of bridges, ports, highways, airports, churches, and San Diego’s wastewater treatment facilities, but most importantly, of family.

With his wife, he was an active participant in the life of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Pacific Beach. George was a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, serving as its chancellor for the Western Lieutenancy.

Quick to laugh, playful in demeanor and teller of corny jokes, he will be remembered with a cigar in one hand, a glass of scotch in the other and a smile on his face. George loved the Lord, his family and his country. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, his children and their spouses, George and Tsia, Mike and Sara, Maryanne and Dan, and Dave and Mandy and grandchildren, Shannon, Erin, William, Christopher, Matthew, G. David, Madelyn, Luke and Finnegan. He leaves behind his brother, John, and his wife, Mary, along with his sister, Nancy, and her husband, John (Rory) Garvey.

Guiding and teaching us always, he fought an eleven-year battle with Parkinson’s disease with grace and dignity that finally took him peacefully surrounded by his wife and children. He will be so greatly missed.

A private funeral Mass will be held on July 29 at St. Brigid’s in San Diego, California followed by a burial at Miramar National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Veteran’s Village of San Diego (vvsd.net).