Francis E. Chomel passed away at The Springs in Richmond, IN on May 13, 2026 at the age of 96.  Fran was born in Connersville, IN on June 17, 1929, the son of Charles Walter and Anna Carl Chomel.

Fran graduated from Connersville High School in the Class of 1947.  He served in the United States Army Reserve for six years where he rose through the ranks to Sergeant.

Fran started his career in broadcasting in 1952 at WCNB Radio in Connersville. Through his employment at the station, he began operating as a sports announcer in the 1960s and 1970s for the Connersville Spartan football and basketball games.  Fran's legacy is deeply rooted in his contributions to sports broadcasting.  His commitment to Connersville High School athletics extended over 50 years.  Generations of athletes and listeners grew up listening to his voice calling the games and they will always remember him as "The Voice of Spartan Sports."  Fran was especially proud to be the announcer for the 1972 State Basketball Championship game at Assembly Hall.

After taking a break from high school sports, Fran returned to radio in the 1990s and 2000s to cover Spartan athletics once again.  He served as the voice of Spartan Sports on Connersville TV3 from 2009 through 2021 where he hosted the weekly Spartan Sports Report.  In 2024, Fran was honored to be inducted into the inaugural class of the Connersville High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

Fran also was very involved in civic duties. He served on the Fayette County Senior Center Board of Directors for several years.  He also was a Councilman At Large on the Connersville City Council and served on the Finance and Tax Abatement committees.  From 1978 until his retirement in 1996, he worked for the City of Connersville as a police dispatcher, where he helped implement the E-911 system in 1994.

Fran was a dedicated member of the St Gabriel Catholic Church where he was on the liturgy committee and served as a lector and Eucharistic minister.  Fran also served on several other church committees.

Fran's lifelong devotion to his brother, Don, exemplified his life of caring and service to others.

He is survived by nieces and nephews, Judith Yount, Kathy Eggermann, Sandra Augustin Dehner, Angela Higgins, Michael Chomel, and Kirk Chomel, as well as many friends and extended family.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Ann Bogue, Lola Clarke and Mary Mackey; brothers, Donnie Chomel, Dale Chomel, Robert Chomel, and Thomas Chomel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Gabriel Catholic Church on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.  Burial will follow at Dale Cemetery.