Frances “Francie” Drexel Cheston Train of Bedford dies at 99

Frances “Francie” Drexel Cheston Train, a longtime resident of Bedford, died Feb. 26, in Islesboro, Maine, at the age of 99.

She was born July 22, 1926, in Philadelphia, Pa., and within days made her first trip to Islesboro by steamship, where she spent most of every summer for the rest of her life. She attended Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Va., and briefly attended Bryn Mawr College. She married Whitney Tower in 1947, and had four children, Alix Tower Thorne, Whitney Tower Jr., Frances Tower Thacher (who predeceased her), and Harry Payne Tower. They lived on Long Island until her divorce, moving in 1968 to Bedford.

She was married to Hugh Fosburgh from 1968-1976. In 1977, she married John Train, welcoming his daughters Musa Train Klebnikov, Nina Train and Lisa Train Pinnington into the family. Train died in 2023.

In Maine, she was passionate about picnics on the many islands of Penobscot Bay and could name them all on sight. She loved fishing, clamming, and plucking mussels. She didn’t like to be considered just a “summer person” and counted many island residents among her friends. When she traveled, she had a knack for assimilating in her surroundings like a chameleon. 

With Train, she sailed many miles on their sloop “Iona” throughout Penobscot Bay. They also traveled extensively around the world. 

Her family said that she will be missed by her many friends around the world, and they are so very grateful to have had her so long in their lives.