Frances Hertha (Wilcox) Lother

Frances Hertha Lother was born on June 23, 1927 in Norwalk Ohio.  She was second in line behind her brother Franklin, with a younger sister, Joanne (Boliek).  As a teenager she played basketball for the high school basketball team, and played flute in the band.   She was able to recount many amazing stories of growing up during the Great Depression, and growing into adulthood in the era of World War II. 

One of her proudest accomplishments was becoming a registered nurse. She attended nurses training at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland, OH.  It was a career that led her from hospital bedside nursing (her favorite) to school nursing, to accommodate the needs of a growing family at home.  She worked for the Kenston School District for over 20 years. She was delighted in later years when one of “her kids” from the school, now adults, recognized her and would speak to her.  She had an uncanny memory for the names of those kids.  Even in her 90’s, Frances would still identify herself as “A Nurse.”  Besides nursing, Frances loved being a mother, grandmother, cleaning, baking, sewing, and had a real green thumb with plants.

While in nurses training, Fran was introduced to one of her classmate’s uncles.  Turns out it was Victor Lother, fresh out serving in the Pacific Theater in the Navy in World War II.  They were married February 12, 1949.  They would be married just shy of 57 years before Victor succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease in 2006. Almost all of those 57 years were spent being active members of Valley Lutheran Church in Chagrin Falls, OH. 

For 50 years of their marriage they lived on Stafford Road, in Auburn Township.  There they had 5 children.  Paul (Toni), Gary (Patty), Julie (Philip), and James. Sadly, their second son, Carl, died as a child. Frances is also proceeded in death by her grandchildren Kyle and Jenna.  Her surviving grandchildren are Douglas, Dean, Kacey, Blake, Makena, Anna, and Tiffany and great grandchildren Annabelle, Madeleine, and Callan.

Frances resided for the last 15 years at Hamlet Hills Senior Living in Chagrin Falls.  She loved living there in the independent and assisted living.  She enjoyed the activities, bible studies and new friendships, including her special friend, Ron Shuler.  During her COVID isolation at the assisted living facility, she took it on herself to send notes, cards, letters to family and faraway friends as a way to encourage them and keep herself busy.

Frances will be remembered for many things, such as her warm welcome to strangers, a ready hug when it was needed, a kind, caring heart, and a love for Jesus. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be sent to Valley Lutheran Church. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 16 with 10:00 visitation, and 11:00 service at Valley Lutheran Church.

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