Frankie Lautzenhiser

Frances “Frankie” Lautzenhiser, 96, of Sanford, died Tuesday, March 8. Born in Indiana to parents John and Mary Strong, she lived in Dunkirk and Marion before moving to Sanford, FL in 1975. She retired from the Central Florida Zoo after 13 years as the Society Bookkeeper and then went on to work part-time in Guest Services for 25 more years.

She was a member of Debary Community United Methodist Church, Central Florida Zoological Society, Volusia County Music Club, DAV Auxiliary, Sigma Phi Gamma sorority, American Legion, Elks, and Moose.

Frankie was a fervent lover of music and she enjoyed playing piano with her late husband, Johnny. They were well-known in the area as the entertaining duo “Frankie & Johnny”, with Frankie on the keys and Johnny playing the doghouse bass.

Johnny was the love of her life. They enjoyed volunteering together for many of the fundraisers at the Central Florida Zoo along with spending time with family, friends and being involved in the community.

She is also preceded in death by her son, Michael Waggaman of Mancos, CO and her cousin, Bette Graham of Muncie, IN. She is survived by her daughters, Julie Flynn and Jo Townsend of Central FL, and Mary Jo Davis of Carrollton, GA; four grandchildren, Tracy Christopher and Maureen Townsend of Central FL, James Davis of Carrollton, GA, and Olivia Waggaman of Durango, CO; and four great-grandchildren, Nick Christopher and Liam Futrell of Central FL, Chloe Davis of Salt Lake City, UT, and Alton Hindmarch of Durango, CO.

A gathering of family and friends for Frankie will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Baldwin-Fairchild Oaklawn Chapel, 5000 CR 46A, Sanford, FL 32771. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery.