Frances Evelyn Wilson Townsend

Frances Evelyn Wilson Townsend was born on November 20, 1921 to Thomas F. and Mary Anna Schoen Wilson in Andrew County, Missouri. She left this earth on August 23, 2012 in Houston, Texas.

Frances was baptized as a young child and was confirmed in 1935 at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. As a student at Todd School, she and her brother, Marvin played on the school softball team and competed with other schools in the area. She was an accomplished pianist and was the recipient of several awards.

During World War II, Frances traveled to Monroe, Louisiana and married John R. Townsend at Selman Field on November 27, 1943 where he was stationed with the Air Force.

Before her marriage, she attended St. Joseph Jr. College and Kansas State University. Frances taught school for about 3 years in Missouri and Kansas, including a one room school house where in addition to teaching, her duties included cleaning the building and starting the fires needed to stay warm. Frances and John moved to Houston in 1953 from a farm in Troy, Kansas and settled in a home in Timbergrove Manor. She retired from HISD where she worked for twenty plus years in the Board Room and also with Houston Community College Board. Frances has been a member of Bethel Church for 59 years where she has held many offices, directed the bell choir and sang in the adult choir.

Frances was engaged in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren daily as she always wanted an update on what each and every one was involved in doing.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother, and one great-grandson.

She is survived by her daughter, Dianne and husband, Harold Weiss of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; her sons, John and wife Linda and Stephen and partner Cory Nelson of Houston. Her grandchildren are Debbie Webb and husband Steve, Craig Weiss, Keith Weiss and wife Julie, Kara Fox and husband David, Trey Townsend and wife Pam, and Jeffrey Townsend and wife Jennifer. She also has 14 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Hampton-Post Oak for the care given to Frances for the past five years.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2012 at Heights Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2012 at Bethel United Church of Christ, 1107 Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77007. Interment will be private. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Memorials are requested to go to Bethel United Church of Christ, 1107 Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77007.