Francis W. Doyle

Francis Walter Doyle, 84, of Warwick, RI passed away peacefully on Monday April 15, 2024 after a decades long battle with cancer. 

 

Born in Providence on April 27, 1939 Francis was the oldest son of Francis J. Doyle and Mildred F. Fiske. After graduating from North Providence High School, he proudly enlisted in the Navy.  He went on to be the first of his family to graduate college earning a Bachelor of Accounting from Bryant College. 

In 1965, he asked a friend to bring a good looking blonde to volunteer in helping him run a karate tournament for a friend’s new business.  That’s when he laid eyes on the love of his life, Constance Graves Doyle, also of Providence.  They married on April 20, 1968  to work building the life of their dreams. 

Frank spent many years working with Carvel Ice Cream corporation including owning his own franchises.  Later in life, he owned residential rental properties and retired early to travel and enjoy life with his beautiful bride.

Along the way they had three children: Erin E. Fahey, Jason F. Doyle, and Melissa D. Collins.  He gave them everything he could in life – a great childhood, incredible family memories, unconditional love, and encouraging sayings for any situation.  The “cream rises to the top”, “by the inch it’s a cinch, by the yard it’s hard”, and “they put their pants on one leg at a time too” were among his favorites.  He didn’t stop influencing the next generation with just his children and their friends.  One of his favorite hobbies was coaching little league baseball and softball and spreading his joy and love of the game to his community. 

He is survived by his wife, his three children and their spouses who he loved as much as his own - Christopher W. Fahey, Kristine M. Doyle, and Christopher P. Collins.  He felt so grateful to come from a large family himself and was pre-deceased by his beloved brother and sisters, Joseph Doyle, Diane Lowell, Patricia Kay, and Barbara Murray.  He was grateful to spend so many years with his siblings, Linda Heeks and Thomas Doyle, who survive him.  He fully loved all his many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.

The biggest kick he ever got out of life was becoming a grandfather.  It all started with Sydney Elizabeth Fahey who got a run of good luck having him all to herself for 8 years before Ryan Christopher Fahey (a baseball player!) joined the mix.  They were followed by Christopher “Topher” P. Collins and Fitzgerald Francis Collins (a namesake!) who he would fly all the way to Arizona to see without hesitation.   Rounding out his life of luck and love, he was blessed with TWIN grandchildren Cody Finnegan Doyle and Bella Grace Doyle.   

We hope you will remember Frank fondly as we all do. He was interested in everyone and happy to jump into as many conversations as he could.  Mom loves flowers so feel free to send some, but if you are so moved gifts could instead be made to: HopeHealth Hospice at www.HopeHealthCo.org/InMemory or to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at https://www.pcf.org/. Visitation will be held on Thursday April 18th from 4:00-7:00pm in The Butterfield Chapel 500 Pontiac Avenue Cranston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday April 19th at 10:00am in St. Rose and Clement Church 111 Long Street Warwick. Burial will be private.