Francis M. Barlow, Jr., 78 of Ruther Glen, Virginia passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024. Francis, Jr. was born in Richmond but lived his entire life in Frog Level. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis M. Barlow, Sr. and Ethel Andrews Barlow, his wife of 57 years, Arlene Chenault Barlow, and a great granddaughter Brooklyn Satterwhite.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Crystal Rozell (Maxie) and Frances Satterwhite (Wes); sons, Keith Barlow (Catherine) and Kevin Barlow (Sherry); grandchildren, Loren Rozell, Blake Rozell (Monica), Trent Satterwhite (Megan), Caitlynn Haskins (Tucker), Morgan Rudd, Devin Barlow (Abbie), Jonathan Barlow, Claire Barlow, Allyson Stanley (Kyle), Abbey Wickham, McKayla Barlow (Nick), and Kollin Barlow (Liz); great-grandchildren, Tinsley and Chesney Pickett, Emery, Bowen and Cassidy Rozell, Casen & Kinley Satterwhite, Briar and Sutton Stanley, and Colson Barlow; a brother, Michael Barlow; a sister, Valerie Gordon; a brother-in-law, Bill Gordon; many nieces, nephews, and farming friends.

Francis, Jr. was a lifelong member, Deacon, and Sunday School Secretary of Concord Baptist Church in Ruther Glen. He was a charter member and active firefighter of the Frog Level Volunteer Fire Department. He joined 4H at the age of six and was a proud exhibitor of his Hampshire hogs. At the age of sixteen he boarded a train alone and headed to Chicago for a 4H convention. He began his farming career at the age of five when he hooked up the horses and plowed his Daddy’s field. He started his own farming business in 1964 where he grew into a successful operation “Barlow Farms”.

In 1965 he started F.M. Barlow Jr. Hauling Inc. where he at one point dispatched fifteen trucks on a daily basis. In 2020 when the trucking industry became extremely competitive, he decided it was time to retire from that business. In 1972 he began installing drain fields. That is where he earned the name “Digger.”  In 1984 he opened Atlee Landscaping Products Inc. in Ashland where he employed many of his friends from the community. In 2000 he opened B & B Produce where he grew vegetables that he sold at the farm, locally, and at markets.

His most recent passion was cutting wood with his firewood processor. If you could not find him in the house, he was cutting wood. He was very loyal and dedicated to his customers. He was known to many by Francis, Daddy, Digger, Granddaddy, Junior, FM, Barlow & Junie. His children, grandchildren and many of their friends attended FLU (Frog Level University) where he was the professor. You did not leave with a college degree, but you were taught many lessons.

The family will receive friends at the Bowling Green chapel of Storke Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 10^th from 2:00 – 4:00pm and 6:00 – 8:00pm. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 11^th at 11:00am in Concord Baptist Church, 15625 Concord Rd., Ruther Glen. Burials will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Concord Baptist Church Playground Fund 15625 Concord Rd., Ruther Glen, VA 22546.