Francis Xavier Timmons

Francis Xavier Timmons, 92, died at Sentara Hospital in Williamsburg on Monday, September 5, 2011. He and his wife Mary lived in Kingsmill for almost 25 years. They were married in Cambridge, Massachusetts and enjoyed nearly 65 years together. They met in Somerville, MA and moved to Arlington, VA after WWII. Frank, or "Tim", had joined the Washington Post after five years in the army. He was a member of the renowned 7th Regiment National Guard. He was inducted as a Private in 1940 and separated from the service in 1945 as a Captain having served in Panama, including time as Post Adjutant of Ft. Gulick. Prior to WWII he attended Pratt Institute, majoring in advertising and marketing design and, as a result, became employed as a commercial artist for two printing companies. He eventually earned his living as an advertising & marketing copywriter. His first position after military service was with the Washington Post as Assistant Promotion Director. After the Post he was hired as an advertising director of a food distributing company. He also became a National Public Relations Director and Advertising Director for the National Association of Ice Industries – all of which were headquartered in Washington D.C. In 1953 Tim was hired by The Wall Street Journal to originate a national advertising promotion department, and moved to Chatham, NJ. He developed a staff and also served as Advertising Research Director, which included advertising promotion of Barron's, and the short-lived National Observer. His last position with the company was National Advertising Director of Dow Jones Publications. At the conclusion of his 16 years with WSJ/Dow Jones he started his own business serving several companies including Johns Manville and IBM. Throughout his career, Tim was very active with the promotion of advertising and newspaper circulation. He received 17 national and international awards including the "Silver Shovel" presented for lifetime achievement by the International Newspaper Promotion Association. He was a prime mover in the expansion of the national association. Tim was an avid golfer and enjoyed his time with the Odd Lots golfing group at Kingsmill. Prior to moving to Kingsmill, his major golf –related accomplishment was his role as co-founder and first president of Fairmount Country Club in Chatham, NJ. Painting was also a hobby. His oils and watercolors have been on display at several Williamsburg exhibits over the years. He is survived by Mary L. Timmons, his devoted wife of 64 years; and his children Marilyn Harrington and her husband Robert of Wayland, MA, Maureen Pilot and her husband Henry of Bethany Beach, DE, and Michael Timmons and his wife Randi of Branford, CT; and by his 10 grandchildren Meghan Pilot, Amy Pilot, Katelyn Pilot, Rebecca Harrington, Amanda Harrington, Thomas Harrington, Erin Timmons, Edmund Timmons, Claire Timmons, and Kathleen Timmons. The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 8 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 9 at 9:00 AM at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Francis X. Timmons to the National Veterans Foundation at www.help-veterans.org. Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.