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JB MDL mourns loss of long-time employee

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst members honored Frances Booth during a service of remembrance ceremony Wednesday at the Dix Main Chapel.

Fran most recently served as the installation volunteer manager for the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Warfighter and Family Readiness Center. She was responsible for the Military Family Team Building and Military Family Action Plan programs. She organized the annual Day of Caring and Volunteer Recognition Ceremony for all installation volunteers.

Fran passed away May 18 after 27 years of government service here. She began her service as a staff member at Walson Army Community Hospital in 1984.

"Fran was my secretary and she did an exemplary job of making life very easy for me in my very demanding, fast-pace, high-profile job," said Col. (ret) George Waters, former deputy commander of Administration at WACH. "Her loyalty, dedication, competence, work ethic, caring disposition, results-oriented approach, exceptionally remarkable productivity, exacting standards, along with her pleasant and congenial personality and manners were the hallmark of her outstanding performance that was unsurpassed."

Fran worked for a short time at the then McGuire Air Force Base Staff Judge Advocate Office after leaving the hospital. Shortly thereafter, the command suite of the Fort Dix Headquarters recognized Booth's qualities, talents and potential and selected her to serve as secretary to the general staff in 1993. She served in this position for ten years and was responsible for multiple staff actions supporting the vast Fort Dix mission.

"Fran was selected in 2003 over many qualified candidates to serve as the Installation Volunteer Coordinator at the Fort Dix Army Community Service Center," said Joan Cole, WFRC chief. "Fran dazzled the interview panel with her knowledge, dedication and professionalism during her interview and continued to do so every day on the job during the eight years we were blessed to have her on our staff."

Fran built a robust installation volunteer program which supported the entire community. She initiated and sustained relationships with military and civilian agency personnel providing opportunities and support to all. She also spearheaded the growth of the Army Family Action Plan, Army Family Team Building Program and the annual Day of Caring all of which earned her a reputation for excellence throughout the community. Booth was recognized locally and throughout the Army for her outstanding programs and her dedication and support to the military community.

Fran transitioned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst at the WFRC as an Air Force employee in 2009. Her programs were valued by the Air Force chain of command and adopted and implemented as "best practices" at the joint base.

"Fran's professionalism and devotion to servicemembers and their families was well known throughout the military community," said Cole. "She was considered a subject-matter expert in all family-readiness programs and issues. She was a loving aunt and dedicated herself to her family especially her niece and nephew, Sierria and Asceon. She will truly be missed and never forgotten by those who knew her well."