Francis “Frank” Michael Lima, who had a 35-year-long career with Firestone, died Thursday, July 3. He was 93.
The following is an obituary from The Elkhart Truth.
Francis “Frank” Michael Lima, 93, went on to be with our Lord and Savior on July 3, 2025. He had been a resident at the Hubbard Hill Living Wisdom Center in Elkhart, Indiana, for approximately three years.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Laura Lima; his sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Raymond Joubert; and his beloved grandsons, John Albert Lima, Matthew Steven Lima and Michael Andrew Lima.
Born on March 25, 1932, at his maternal grandparent’s home in Fall River, Massachusetts, Frank lived a life marked by service, dedication, and love for God, family, country and community. He attended Tiverton, Rhode Island, grammar schools and De La Salle High School in Newport (as Tiverton did not yet have a high school).
Unable to afford college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950. Shortly thereafter he was called up during the Korean War and served aboard the U.S.S. Missouri until honorably discharged in 1954. This battleship was also known as the “Big Mo.”
While at Bryant College, which he was only able to attend under the G.I. Bill, he found his lifelong love, Maureen “Mo” (Loomis) — who he’d sometimes refer to as “Little Mo.” Shortly thereafter they married and started many wondrous and blessed adventures together. He would often later say, “It wasn’t the Big Mo that got me; it was the Little Mo.” It would have been 68 years of marriage this July 20. Together they raised six children: Cathy Rush (Dan), Mary Ellen Soltys (Frank), Mike Lima, Pete Lima, Patrick Lima (Toni) and Tim Lima (Barb). Frank and Maureen are blessed with 19 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, who brought him immense joy throughout his life.
Following college, he joined Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in 1959 in Fall River, Massachusetts, and served in several accounting positions there. In 1974, he accepted a promotion to plant manager and transferred to lead the Elkhart, Indiana, plant in the Firestone Polyurethane Foam Division, where he worked until 1991. In 1991, he took over responsibility for the LaPorte plant and released responsibility for the Elkhart, Indiana, plant. He retired after 35 years of service at Firestone in 1994.
Inspired by an early childhood experience of having received Christmas gifts from the local Lions Club, Frank strongly believed in doing his part to help improve the lives of others in his community. He was actively involved in numerous community organizations, including serving as Grand Knight of the Father Boehr Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, elected Tiverton (Rhode Island) School Board member and chairman, board member of the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, president of the Elkhart Lions Club, board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Elkhart, past member of the Elks Lodge 425, and many other community and civic organizations.
Frank was also actively involved in local and state politics in Rhode Island. As chairman of the Tiverton School Board, he spearheaded the successful efforts to identify land and funding and to design and build the community’s first high school, so future youth in the community did not have to endure the long trips he did as a youth to attend high school.
He was known for his dry humorous wit and his love of all things family and community and was a devoted Notre Dame fan. Frank enjoyed international and domestic travel, golf and water activities (both ocean and pool). He has left his positive mark upon this earth by his consistency in actions in doing his part to support, assist, guide and build up his loved ones, those he encountered and his community. Many are better for having known him and through their continued contributions and assistance to others, his legacy will continue. He will be greatly missed by his family and loved ones until they meet again.
Services
Funeral arrangements have been made at Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 700 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, Indiana 46516.
Visitation and Mass will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church on July 11. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., with Mass at 11 a.m., followed by procession to Rice Cemetery. The Rev. Logan Parrish will be officiating. The family invites those attending to return to St. Thomas following the service for a reception and celebration of life beginning at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks you to consider a donation to either The Hubbard Hill Estates Inc. (Living Wisdom Center-Craftsman House) or the Caring Cove Hospice of Indiana.
