Frances B. Meng

Mrs. Frances Blanche Meilink Meng, 92, of Houston, Texas, died Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 5:44 a.m. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by family and peacefully drifted into the arms of her Lord.

She was born on October 1, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio to her parents the late Mr. Francis Meilink and the late Mrs. Tillie Meilink Dietrich. Mrs. Meng graduated from Jesup Wakeman Scott High School in 1938. She married the late Mr. Donald Elroy Meng in 1939. They lived, loved, and raised a family together in Sandusky, Ohio, before relocating to Pine Island, Florida in 1982. In every place she resided she made lifelong friends and contributed to each community. Mrs. Meng was known to friends and family as “Fran,” “Red,” and “Mom-Mom.” During her professional career, she worked side-by-side with her husband in building, managing, and scouring several motels and a tourist home in Sandusky. She was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sandusky, of Child Chapter, and served as a campaign director for Easter Seals. While residing in Pine Island, Mrs. Meng was instrumental in helping her husband into his “retirement” career as a commercial fisherman. It is hard to believe that there was ever a cleaner fish or boat than those touched by Mrs. Meng. After the death of her husband, she lived on and off with her daughters until finally residing with her daughter Jacquelyn Meng Abbott and son-in-law James Thomas Abbott in Fort Wayne, Indiana and, thereafter, Houston, Texas. During many of the final years of her life, she was accompanied by her constant, loving companion, Evita, a Maltese, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Meng is survived by her three children and their spouses, Mr. Douglas Meng (son) and Mrs. Lenore Meng of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. and Mrs. Abbott (daughter) of Houston, Texas, and Mr. John Zell Maddox and Mrs. Sally Meng Maddox (daughter) of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

During her lifetime, Mrs. Meng supported many charitable organizations, including the Humane Society and the ministry of Mr. David Sherbrooke through the U.S. Center for World Mission. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of the foregoing or a charity of your choice. To contribute to Mr. Sherbrooke’s ministry, please send donations to “U.S. Center for World Missions, 1605 E Elizabeth St., Pasadena, California 91104-2721.” Please include “MA#311” in the memo of the donation.

A memorial service will be Monday, September 30, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024. Mrs. Meng will be inurned with her husband at 11:15 AM on Friday, November 29, 2013 in the Houston National Cemetery, Houston, Texas.