HEPBURN, FRANCIS A.

Francis Addison Hepburn was born in Abbott, New Mexico on January 1, 1923, and peacefully passed away at his home in Point Loma, June 20, 2007, surrounded by his loved ones and San Diego Hospice. He is survived by his wife Eloise, his brother Eugene Hepburn, and his children Mark (Margaret), Chris (Kathy), Jon, Rod (Barbara), Rex, Judy Marshall (Tim), and Phillip (Deena), as well as Eloise’s children, Richard Roberts (Laura), Deborah Goss (Dean), Bobbi Hanna (Randy), David Roberts (Jamie), his twenty-one grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Francis served our country during World War II as a United States Marine Raider in the Pacific. One of only ten survivors from his company of two hundred and fifty men, his many writings detailing the Raiders are highly regarded and quoted in numerous publications. The Raiders were the first commando-type unit formed in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps and the first unit of its type formed in World War II. Following the war, he earned a Civil Engineering degree from New Mexico State at Las Cruces and worked at White Sands, New Mexico. This was followed by a career at Convair, General Dynamics in San Diego, CA, where he was involved with the Atlas Missile Program, and at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, which was interspersed with Global Associates assignments at Kwajalien, Marshall Islands from 1966-72 and again as Chief Engineer from 1974-78. He returned and retired from Convair in 1985. He found comfort zones in used book stores, where he continually updated his vast field of knowledge, oil painting, deep sea fishing, his writings, and his little dog, Jazz. Inurnment will take place at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on July 20, 2007 at ten o’clock a.m., immediately followed by a celebration of his life at Le Rondelet Cabana, 1150 Anchorage Lane in Point Loma. All friends and family are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to his favorite charity: The Vouza Fund c/o USMC Raider Association, 704 Cooper Court, Arlington, TX 76011-5550. Semper Fidelis