For two years, 1959-1961 Francis served as an Agricultural Technician in Vietnam. Returning from Vietnam he toured the world, then attended the University of Maryland, graduating in 1965 with a Masters in Agricultural Extension Education. Shortly after graduation he married Carlyn Anne Rollings, who survives him. In 1967 Francis became the first County Agricultural Agent in Arlington, VA.
In 1984 Francis began a career in financial services, then in 1988 he and Carlyn moved to a 65-acre farm in Madison County where he worked part time in landscaping and continued his career in financial services.
Francis held many prestigious professional organization offices, such as President of the Virginia Agricultural Extension Agents Association and National President of the Professional Grounds Management Society.
Francis was an active member of the Sons of the American Revolution as an officer in the local chapter and in various positions at the state level. He was president of the Culpeper Minutemen Chapter from 2009-10.