UPPER BLACK EDDY, Pa. — Francis R. Lavenger, beloved husband of Janet, his wife of 62 years, died Tuesday, July 31, at his home in Upper Black Eddy, Pa., where he had been in hospice care. A Lewiston-Auburn resident for 26 years, he always thought of Maine as the best place in the world, and after leaving the state in 1985 he and Janet returned “home to Maine” each summer to visit friends and favorite places.

Francis was born May 13, 1931, in Ulm, Germany, spent most of his early years in England and received his BS in mechanical engineering from Leeds University.

Soon after entering the United States in 1950, he became a naturalized citizen and joined the U.S. Army, returning to Germany to serve in our Army of Occupation until his honorable discharge in 1954.

While employed as an engineer with Diamond Machine Co. in Lewiston, he developed several innovations for the shoe and textile industry, and designed improvements for the company’s materials handling systems.

After relocating to Pennsylvania in 1985, he formed his own company to design fully automatic processes for building heavy equipment for John Deere, Ford, Caterpillar and other tractor companies, and later developed an extrusion handling system for the window and door industry.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; their godchild and family in Milwaukee, Wis.: Karen and Richard Rodgers, Thomas and Mary Rodgers; Kevin Rodgers; and two cousins, Mrs. Helga Gannon of Ilkley, Engand, and Tony Booth of Spofforth, England.

Francis R. Lavenger