Evelyn Grace Frantz, age 96, entered the presence of the Lord and was reunited with her husband Jay on Tuesday morning, July 18, 2023. Her final day of life on earth included some favorite activities: playing Scrabble, singing hymns, watching "I Love Lucy" and "Little House on the Prairie", and talking to Georgie (the cat).
On October 22, 1926, Evelyn Grace Lentz was born at home in Richland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Iram and Sadie Lentz, joining older brothers Elwood and Arthur (her sister Ruth died in infancy before Evelyn was born). Her sister Lela was born a few years later, and then her brother Sterling. The family grieved the tragic drowning loss of Sterling when he was eight years old. Life for Evelyn and her siblings included helping with farm chores, playing with friends, and going to a one-room school. They attended Richland Church of the Brethren, where their father served as a lay pastor from 1928-1947. Iram also worked as a telegrapher-towerman for the Pennsylvania Seashore Railroad and Reading Railroad Lines for 45 years, so his lifetime pass allowed the family to make many train trips together.
During her high school years (1940-1944), Evelyn had various jobs – picking pickles and lima beans, and working in a garment factory and sweater factory. After graduating from Richland High School in 1944, she was a student at Elizabethtown College. After her freshman year she was a waitress at Pocono Manor Inn and Hotel Hershey, and the next summer she was a waitress and housekeeper at a camp in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Jay Frantz, who served as a Marine in World War II, arrived on the scene at Elizabethtown College, and a new chapter in Evelyn's life began! They dated in the spring and summer of 1947, and were married on October 25, 1947. They lived in Lebanon PA from 1947-1952, where Ron was born in 1949. Life was full, with finishing college (they graduated in 1950), working various jobs, and raising their baby boy.
They moved to Indiana in 1952, where Jay began his teaching career. Their first home was in Elkhart, where Donna was born (1952), and then they moved to Mishawaka, where Leanne was born in 1959. Evelyn worked for many years as a nurse's aide in a nursing home and at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, and she graduated from Indiana Vocational Technical College in 1983 with an LPN degree. Hobbies together included bowling, Canasta parties, camping, and trips to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey shore. They were faithful members of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend.
In 1989 Jay retired from teaching, and they moved back "home" to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed many reunions with family (sister Lela and her family), and old Elizabethtown friends, and they attended Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
In 2011 they moved into an independent-living apartment at Londonderry Village in Palmyra. During Jay's final years, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017. Jay passed away in March of 2018. In early 2020, Evelyn moved into an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona, to be near daughter Leanne and her family, but in April 2020, after the pandemic began, she moved into their home, where she lived until her passing. During her years in Tucson, she enjoyed visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many special outings (the zoo, museums, parks, the beach in California, the Grand Canyon, and even some horseback riding).
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents Iram and Sadie, all of her siblings (Elwood, Arthur, Ruth, Lela, and Sterling), and one granddaughter (Elise). She is survived by her three children: Ron Frantz and wife Patrice of Grand Haven, MI; Donna Conner of Galveston, TX; and Leanne Barkley and husband Dale of Tucson, AZ; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10-11 a.m. and there will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will take place in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com.
On October 22, 1926, Evelyn Grace Lentz was born at home in Richland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Iram and Sadie Lentz, joining older brothers Elwood and Arthur (her sister Ruth died in infancy before Evelyn was born). Her sister Lela was born a few years later, and then her brother Sterling. The family grieved the tragic drowning loss of Sterling when he was eight years old. Life for Evelyn and her siblings included helping with farm chores, playing with friends, and going to a one-room school. They attended Richland Church of the Brethren, where their father served as a lay pastor from 1928-1947. Iram also worked as a telegrapher-towerman for the Pennsylvania Seashore Railroad and Reading Railroad Lines for 45 years, so his lifetime pass allowed the family to make many train trips together.
During her high school years (1940-1944), Evelyn had various jobs – picking pickles and lima beans, and working in a garment factory and sweater factory. After graduating from Richland High School in 1944, she was a student at Elizabethtown College. After her freshman year she was a waitress at Pocono Manor Inn and Hotel Hershey, and the next summer she was a waitress and housekeeper at a camp in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Jay Frantz, who served as a Marine in World War II, arrived on the scene at Elizabethtown College, and a new chapter in Evelyn's life began! They dated in the spring and summer of 1947, and were married on October 25, 1947. They lived in Lebanon PA from 1947-1952, where Ron was born in 1949. Life was full, with finishing college (they graduated in 1950), working various jobs, and raising their baby boy.
They moved to Indiana in 1952, where Jay began his teaching career. Their first home was in Elkhart, where Donna was born (1952), and then they moved to Mishawaka, where Leanne was born in 1959. Evelyn worked for many years as a nurse's aide in a nursing home and at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, and she graduated from Indiana Vocational Technical College in 1983 with an LPN degree. Hobbies together included bowling, Canasta parties, camping, and trips to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey shore. They were faithful members of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend.
In 1989 Jay retired from teaching, and they moved back "home" to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed many reunions with family (sister Lela and her family), and old Elizabethtown friends, and they attended Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
In 2011 they moved into an independent-living apartment at Londonderry Village in Palmyra. During Jay's final years, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017. Jay passed away in March of 2018. In early 2020, Evelyn moved into an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona, to be near daughter Leanne and her family, but in April 2020, after the pandemic began, she moved into their home, where she lived until her passing. During her years in Tucson, she enjoyed visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many special outings (the zoo, museums, parks, the beach in California, the Grand Canyon, and even some horseback riding).
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents Iram and Sadie, all of her siblings (Elwood, Arthur, Ruth, Lela, and Sterling), and one granddaughter (Elise). She is survived by her three children: Ron Frantz and wife Patrice of Grand Haven, MI; Donna Conner of Galveston, TX; and Leanne Barkley and husband Dale of Tucson, AZ; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10-11 a.m. and there will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will take place in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com.
Evelyn Grace Frantz, age 96, entered the presence of the Lord and was reunited with her husband Jay on Tuesday morning, July 18, 2023. Her final day of life on earth included some favorite activities: playing Scrabble, singing hymns, watching "I Love Lucy" and "Little House on the Prairie", and talking to Georgie (the cat).
On October 22, 1926, Evelyn Grace Lentz was born at home in Richland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Iram and Sadie Lentz, joining older brothers Elwood and Arthur (her sister Ruth died in infancy before Evelyn was born). Her sister Lela was born a few years later, and then her brother Sterling. The family grieved the tragic drowning loss of Sterling when he was eight years old. Life for Evelyn and her siblings included helping with farm chores, playing with friends, and going to a one-room school. They attended Richland Church of the Brethren, where their father served as a lay pastor from 1928-1947. Iram also worked as a telegrapher-towerman for the Pennsylvania Seashore Railroad and Reading Railroad Lines for 45 years, so his lifetime pass allowed the family to make many train trips together.
During her high school years (1940-1944), Evelyn had various jobs – picking pickles and lima beans, and working in a garment factory and sweater factory. After graduating from Richland High School in 1944, she was a student at Elizabethtown College. After her freshman year she was a waitress at Pocono Manor Inn and Hotel Hershey, and the next summer she was a waitress and housekeeper at a camp in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Jay Frantz, who served as a Marine in World War II, arrived on the scene at Elizabethtown College, and a new chapter in Evelyn's life began! They dated in the spring and summer of 1947, and were married on October 25, 1947. They lived in Lebanon PA from 1947-1952, where Ron was born in 1949. Life was full, with finishing college (they graduated in 1950), working various jobs, and raising their baby boy.
They moved to Indiana in 1952, where Jay began his teaching career. Their first home was in Elkhart, where Donna was born (1952), and then they moved to Mishawaka, where Leanne was born in 1959. Evelyn worked for many years as a nurse's aide in a nursing home and at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, and she graduated from Indiana Vocational Technical College in 1983 with an LPN degree. Hobbies together included bowling, Canasta parties, camping, and trips to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey shore. They were faithful members of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend.
In 1989 Jay retired from teaching, and they moved back "home" to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed many reunions with family (sister Lela and her family), and old Elizabethtown friends, and they attended Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
In 2011 they moved into an independent-living apartment at Londonderry Village in Palmyra. During Jay's final years, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017. Jay passed away in March of 2018. In early 2020, Evelyn moved into an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona, to be near daughter Leanne and her family, but in April 2020, after the pandemic began, she moved into their home, where she lived until her passing. During her years in Tucson, she enjoyed visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many special outings (the zoo, museums, parks, the beach in California, the Grand Canyon, and even some horseback riding).
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents Iram and Sadie, all of her siblings (Elwood, Arthur, Ruth, Lela, and Sterling), and one granddaughter (Elise). She is survived by her three children: Ron Frantz and wife Patrice of Grand Haven, MI; Donna Conner of Galveston, TX; and Leanne Barkley and husband Dale of Tucson, AZ; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10-11 a.m. and there will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will take place in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com.
On October 22, 1926, Evelyn Grace Lentz was born at home in Richland, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Iram and Sadie Lentz, joining older brothers Elwood and Arthur (her sister Ruth died in infancy before Evelyn was born). Her sister Lela was born a few years later, and then her brother Sterling. The family grieved the tragic drowning loss of Sterling when he was eight years old. Life for Evelyn and her siblings included helping with farm chores, playing with friends, and going to a one-room school. They attended Richland Church of the Brethren, where their father served as a lay pastor from 1928-1947. Iram also worked as a telegrapher-towerman for the Pennsylvania Seashore Railroad and Reading Railroad Lines for 45 years, so his lifetime pass allowed the family to make many train trips together.
During her high school years (1940-1944), Evelyn had various jobs – picking pickles and lima beans, and working in a garment factory and sweater factory. After graduating from Richland High School in 1944, she was a student at Elizabethtown College. After her freshman year she was a waitress at Pocono Manor Inn and Hotel Hershey, and the next summer she was a waitress and housekeeper at a camp in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
Jay Frantz, who served as a Marine in World War II, arrived on the scene at Elizabethtown College, and a new chapter in Evelyn's life began! They dated in the spring and summer of 1947, and were married on October 25, 1947. They lived in Lebanon PA from 1947-1952, where Ron was born in 1949. Life was full, with finishing college (they graduated in 1950), working various jobs, and raising their baby boy.
They moved to Indiana in 1952, where Jay began his teaching career. Their first home was in Elkhart, where Donna was born (1952), and then they moved to Mishawaka, where Leanne was born in 1959. Evelyn worked for many years as a nurse's aide in a nursing home and at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, and she graduated from Indiana Vocational Technical College in 1983 with an LPN degree. Hobbies together included bowling, Canasta parties, camping, and trips to Pennsylvania and the New Jersey shore. They were faithful members of Crest Manor Church of the Brethren in South Bend.
In 1989 Jay retired from teaching, and they moved back "home" to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed many reunions with family (sister Lela and her family), and old Elizabethtown friends, and they attended Palmyra Church of the Brethren.
In 2011 they moved into an independent-living apartment at Londonderry Village in Palmyra. During Jay's final years, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2017. Jay passed away in March of 2018. In early 2020, Evelyn moved into an assisted living facility in Tucson, Arizona, to be near daughter Leanne and her family, but in April 2020, after the pandemic began, she moved into their home, where she lived until her passing. During her years in Tucson, she enjoyed visits with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many special outings (the zoo, museums, parks, the beach in California, the Grand Canyon, and even some horseback riding).
Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents Iram and Sadie, all of her siblings (Elwood, Arthur, Ruth, Lela, and Sterling), and one granddaughter (Elise). She is survived by her three children: Ron Frantz and wife Patrice of Grand Haven, MI; Donna Conner of Galveston, TX; and Leanne Barkley and husband Dale of Tucson, AZ; eight grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 8th, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 10-11 a.m. and there will be a luncheon following the service. Burial will take place in Grand View Memorial Park, Annville, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Palmyra Church of the Brethren. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com.
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