Frances Arva Kapp of Decatur died at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at the Keystone Meadows Assisted Living Community.
A private family memorial service will be held in the 1st Presbyterian Church of Decatur on September 20th. Private interment at Fairlawn Cemetery will precede the service. There will be no visitation. Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the 1st Presbyterian Church, The James Millikin Homestead or donor’s choice. Messages of condolence may be directed to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.
Frances was born in Meredosia, Illinois on October 25, 1914, the daughter of Harry and Myrtle (Gilliland) Lake. She married Horace J. Kapp on February 19th, 1947. He preceded her in death on February 13, 1980. She attended Roosevelt Junior High School, Decatur High School and graduated from Millikin University in 1936, where she belonged to Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Before marriage she was employed as an Executive Secretary at A.E.Staley Manufacturing Company.
She held office in both the Decatur and State Chapter of the American Association of University Women. Frances was a former member of the Decatur Club and the Decatur Country Club, Bal Harbour Club, La Gorce Country Club and a life member of the James Millikin Homestead. She served on the board of Directors of the Decatur Art Institute and was an active volunteer for Decatur Memorial Hospital and The Red Cross. She was a member of 1st Presbyterian Church of Decatur and a deaconess of the Church by the Sea in Bal Harbour, Florida, where she was also president of its Women’s Society and assisted in the church office
with clerical details. Frances was “official proofreader” of its pastors’ sermons which she corrected for errors of grammar but never theology.
Surviving are her stepson Lucien C. Kapp and his wife Brigitta of Decatur; grandchildren: Sabrina ( Robert) Hund of Decatur and Florian (Cynthia) Kapp of La Grange, Kentucky; great-grandchildren: Sheldon, Sabryn, Loren, and Grayson Kapp; Lillian and Oliver Hund. An adopted church cat “ Fifty” is presumed well in Florida.
She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
The family is sincerely grateful to the staff of Keystone Meadows, which became her pleasant home for the last three years. We also owe Comfort Keepers, an In-Home Care organization, our heartfelt thanks. Their compassionate presence was a blessing for us all. Our Mama, Grammie, Great-Grammie loved autumn among all seasons. We will think on you now and whenever leaves go from living green to
eternal gold!
Latest Condolences
| Jackie and Steve Slana |
friends |
September 19, 2010 |
Dear Lucien and Brigita,
We were so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. She was a beautiful person. Someone sent me a condolence when my dad died and it really helped me. Maybe it can help you too: "She whom you have loved and lost is no longer where she was before. She is now wherever you are." We are thinking of you and praying for you at this sad time.
Jackie and Steve and family
| Linda Hull |
Frances Kapp |
September 12, 2010 |
Dear Lucien, Brigitta and family:
Frances was always a gracious, pleasant lady. She always led her life with dignity and I often thought of her as a role model after I got to know her.
I know you miss her but are thankful she is at peace. I am sure she, Mr. Kapp and Lew are embracing each other and looking down on all of us and sending their blessings.
Love, Linda
