Frances S. Olson's Obituary
Frances was born in Fresno, California on April 16, 1920. Frances was the youngest of four children; Arza, Karl, Fergus, then Frances. Her mother was Arza Maude Ferguson Smith. Arza Maude’s family came across the U.S. continent in a covered wagon. Her father was Edgar Christian Smith. His parents were born in Denmark and emigrated to the United States in the late 1800s.Edgar became Chief Deputy County Surveyor, and then later County Surveyor and they lived close to downtown Fresno. At one time the family lived on a ranch raising rabbits. Before they moved to the ranch Frances overheard her parents talking about the feasibility of making a living on the ranch. Her father said “Well, if things don’t work out we can always send Frances out to tend geese on Smith Mountain”. Frances was really disappointed that the geese never showed up. The family frequently visited Arza Maude’s parents who lived in Wilsonia. Wilsonia is surrounded by Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is where she developed her love of the mountains and nature. Her father spent a lot of time teaching her about the constellations and the sky. Throughout her life when the sky was clear enough she would scan the heavens to find her ‘friends’.She graduated from Roosevelt High School and then went on to Fresno State College for a Bachelor’s Degree to become an elementary school teacher.Every Sunday during the war her family would invite a serviceman to lunch after church. One Sunday she chose a tall, good looking, blue-eyed, blonde haired man named Elmer Olson. When Frances and Elmer started courting they drove the Smith’s 1926 Pierce Arrow. They went on a lot of activities with a young adult group from Saint Paul’s Methodist Church. The couple got a lot of teasing about the car from the group.She eventually married Elmer and they had 5 children; Marilyn, Darlene, Kenneth, Donald, and David. Elmer worked as a Civil Engineer for the California Division of Highways, now known as Caltrans. In 1960 he was promoted to a position in San Diego and so the family moved down to sunny Southern California.Frances was a third generation Methodist so naturally the family joined the Linda Vista Methodist Church shortly after they moved. Frances sang in the choir and was active in the women’s circles and on several boards. She continued to attend church until her health prevented it. She was also active with her children’s activities. She was den mother to a Cub Scout Pack. She assisted with the Girl Scouts and the MYF. Once she climbed part way up Mount Whitney with Marilyn’s Girl Scout group.Frances was a voracious reader and passed her love of reading on to her descendants. Some of Frances’s other hobbies were crocheting and tatting. She regularly made note cards with tatted lace flowers to sell at church bazaars. From the proceeds she bought new hymnals for the church. She crocheted lots of doilies, some of which she donated to the church bazaars. Eventually, she got into crocheting afghans. She made one for each of her children, then some for the spouses, grandchildren and even her great-grandchild. One of her nieces asked her if she could have an afghan made for her. Of course Frances said yes. She ended up crocheting an afghan for all of her nieces, nephews, and even her grand nieces and nephews. After Elmer died, Kenneth and David asked Frances what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She said she wanted to learn more about Astronomy. Frances started attending Astronomy Club meetings at the Space Theater with Kenneth.The Space Theater sponsored trips to places where Solar Eclipses could be seen. She went to numerous places in South America, Europe, and Asia. She had her heart attack when she was near the Great Wall of China. That only slowed her down for a short while. Eventually her sister joined her on the trips and they had a ball traveling all over the world.Frances lived a busy and fulfilled life and never lost her childlike wonder of the world. She was a storyteller and teacher. She gave of herself to so many. Frances will be remembered for the twinkle of her eye and the warmth of her hugs.*In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Linda Vista United Methodist Church 6869 Tait St, San Diego, CA 92111 Phone: (858) 277-1518
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