Stephen Walter France

Stephen Walter France (Steve), Age 83 passed away on July 15th of 2026 from complications related to a twelve year struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

He was born in Canton, Ohio on May 16, 1943, to the late Walter and Patricia (Cole) France of Massillon, Ohio. Steve graduated from Jackson Memorial High School in 1961 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in political science from Kent State University in 1966.

Steve served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970 as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer at Clark Air Base in the Philippines then at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

During a career in magazine publishing, he served as publisher for several business to business magazines for Akron based publishing houses including Babcox Publications and Crain Communications. He also launched and served as publisher for Great Lakes Sailor, a consumer magazine.

He was a member of the Business/Professional Advertising Association, the Downtown Akron Kiwanis Club and was a board member and president of Progress Through Preservation. He was a member of the board of trustees with the Summit County Solid Waste Management Authority and served on the Kent State University, College of Arts, and Sciences Alumni Council. He was a board member and Commodore of the Portage Lakes Yacht Club, where he organized and ran the club’s first junior learn to sail camps. He was a board member and Commodore of the Sandusky Sailing Club and was active in the club’s racing programs. He was also a member of the Akron Sail and Power Squadron, the U.S. Sailing Association, and an associate member of the Fort Myers Power Squadron.

Steve is survived by loving Wife of 55 years, June (Murry), daughter Kimberly of Boone, North Carolina, Son Jeffrey of Akron (Erin), granddaughter Chloe, brother Thomas of Dallas, Texas, and sister Chrisse (Lorie) of Richmond Heights, Ohio.

A memorial service honoring Steve’s life will be 2:00 PM, Thursday July 30 at The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 North Miller Road with Chaplain Dan Peitzmeyer officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

(Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)