Frances Ruth Williams

Frances Ruth Williams, 94, of Estero, Florida (formerly of Chicago, Illinois) passed away peacefully on Sunday January 22, 2017. Born August 19, 1922 in Chicago, she was the only daughter of Oscar and Mary Ellen (Jones) Swanson. She married Kenneth James Williams, a WWII Veteran, on September 16, 1949, with whom she shared 38 years of marriage, preceded her in death in 1987.

Fran is survived by her 2 sons, James (Donna) Williams of Elgin, IL, Robert (Teri) Williams of Ft. Myers, FL. Dear grandmother of Kathryn (Adam) Carter of Ft. Myers, FL, Elizabeth (Justin) Rumbarger of Ft. Myers, FL, Grace (Dan) Ruta of Roselle, IL, and Julianne (Aaron) Johnson of Bartlett, IL, and proud great-grandmother of Sophia Carter, Madelyn & Zoey Rumbarger and Dean Johnson.

Fran lived a long and full live. She was in the Biology club at Von Steuben High School in Chicago and graduated in 1940 with her two best friends, Ethel and Bea. Fran worked a short career as a secretary at the (Milwaukee Road) Railroad, Home Insurance Company in Chicago, Vancouver Public Schools in Oregon and then devoted her life to loving her family. Her hobbies were shopping, cooking and baking. An avid reader who loved to read cookbooks. She loved playing the organ. Fran had fond memories of traveling to Colorado, California, Canada, Michigan, Oregon, and of course Florida. Fran also cherished all her friends at Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, IL where she was a long time member. Her secret to her longevity was her love of sweets. Especially Cashew Brittles from See’s Candies. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Fran will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers from Estero Life Care Center for the love and care they provided to Fran for the past couple of years.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for later this summer and will be announced.