Lakeside Appliance founder dies at 84

Theodore Waddy Francisco, who founded Lakeside Appliance in 1954 and whose family ran the company until they sold it in 2003, had a purpose for each day he lived.

"I don't think he ever had a day without a plan, whether it was an errand or a project or, later, volunteer work that he did. He just never sat around," said a son, Jeffrey W. Francisco of Henrico County.

The elder Francisco, who died March 21 at age 84 at his residence at Westminster Canterbury-Richmond, started what the family thinks was the largest independent appliance retailer in central Virginia in a 1,500-square-foot space across the street from what in the early 1970s would become his store at 5418 Lakeside Ave.

In 1979, he opened a West Broad Street branch, which he closed in 1984 and reopened in a tobacco warehouse at 1611 Rhoadmiller St., which became the company headquarters and distribution center. In 1985, he opened a Bon Air branch on Buford Road, followed by a short-lived store in Mechanicsville in 1987. A store he opened in 1988 on Ridge Road was consolidated in 1995 with the Broad Street store.

"He was the kind of businessman who would see a need in the company and find somebody that needed a job," his son said. He recruited family members, friends and church members to work for him "who went on to bigger and better things. I can't tell you how many of his children's friends he hired for the company.

"In a way, he was very, very generous, but he had the highest expectations and an unyielding concern for getting the job right. He had the highest concern that the customer would get what he had paid for," his son said.

During the time leading up to Mr. Francisco's funeral last Saturday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, his son said he heard many comments that began with "your father taught me how to fill in the blank. How to organize, how to handle a customer, a complaint."

Mr. Francisco led "not so much by an active role but by example," his son said.

Born at home in Frederick Hall in Louisa County, he was one of eight children of a couple who lived on wooded acreage that included a general store, which they ran.

They later moved to Beaverdam. Mr. Francisco went into the Navy when he was 18 years old and was on his way to participate in the planned invasion of Japan when World War II ended.

More:
Lakeside Appliance founder dies at 84