OBITUARY:

FRANCIS RAYMOND LINE
A Life of Adventure, Service and Sharing

Francis Raymond Line, long-time resident of Capistrano Beach for 39 years, passed away March 2nd at age 95. He was born in New London, Ohio, and raised in Howell, Michigan. In 1922, after graduation from high school, he and his brother hitch-hiked to every state in the Union and three years later circled the globe.

After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1928, he married Helen Gibson of Arizona and soon moved to Ontario, California, where they founded the still-active Chaffey Community Art Association in 1941. Francis and Helen Line purchased the famed natural landmark - Eagle Rock - and surrounding 20 acres in 1943, where they resided for 17 years.

From 1939 through the 1960s, Francis produced over 20 films, lecturing with them throughout America, becoming the most popular on the travel-adventure circuit. He received, with Helen, the first Martin Luther King Human Dignity award from the Metropolitan YMCA of Los Angeles, for work with the youth of Watts. During the 1980s he authored eight books and has been published in National Geographic, Boys' Life and Arizona Highways.

He is survived by a daughter, Adrienne Knute of Cima, California; grandson Jeff Knute of Winslow, AZ; granddaughter Jan Barsten of Brandbury, CA; granddaughter Krista Mettala of Kirkkonummi, Finland; and five great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea United Methodist Church in San Clemente, California, on Saturday, March 13th at 2:00 PM Internment took place at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made in the name of Francis Line to your favorite charity. Arrangements by San Clemente Mortuary.


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