Frances Mae Erskine

Frances "Fran" Mae Wilcke Erskine died peacefully on January 18, 2015 at age 94 in her residence at Bethany Lutheran Village in Centerville, Ohio. Fran was born on May 14, 1920 and was a lifelong Dayton area resident. She attended Stivers High School and later graduated from Oakwood High School. Her formal education continued at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she graduated in 1942 with a B.A. degree. Several years later, Fran became involved with an adult hiking group affiliated with the Dayton YMCA, and from that group, many enduring friendships were formed. Beyond family and friends, Fran's greatest love was travel. Whether it was a short weekend excursion, a cross-country family camping vacation, or just an afternoon picnic, Fran always liked being outdoors and seeing new places. Later in life she enjoyed foreign travel and cultural study with Elderhostel, first across Europe and eventually on trips to all seven continents. Closer to home, she liked visiting New York City for shopping and Broadway plays. Her love of theater, including the Kenley Players locally, led to her position as House Manager of Memorial Hall in her late life career. Fran's affiliations included Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Dayton Council on World Affairs, and The League of Women Voters. Fran was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Cora (Moore) Wilcke, her sister Audrey June Evans and a granddaughter Suzanna Mae Ginn (Erskine). Fran was married to Harold C. Erskine from 1946 to 1986 and together they had four children. She is survived by those four children: Dale (Barbara), Mark (Elizabeth), Dean and Nancy (James) Blazar, as well as 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Burial will be on January 24, 2015 at Dayton's Woodland Cemetery following a private family service. Donations in her memory can be made to either the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or The Castle, 133 N. Main St., Centerville OH 45459.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429