Frances Lenton

Frances Evelyn (Thoe) Lenton, 97, of Davenport, Iowa went to the Lord on Friday, December 14, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Home in Davenport.  A Celebration of her life will be conducted at a later date as she wished.

Fran was born on a farm near Ypsilanti, Michigan on March 6, 1915, the daughter of Oscar and Ruth Thoe.  At the age of sixteen, she passed the teacher’s exam which qualified her to teach in a one-room schoolhouse for K-12 grades. Later she graduated from Mankato University in Minnesota.

Fran was the best Mom, Grammy, and Great Grandma Extraordinaire.  Daughter Kay and husband David loved having Fran as their traveling historian when they went to Europe several times.  Grammy was always there for every activity and celebration of the kids.  She taught them bridge, how to drive, and why politics is everyone’s business.  The grandkids loved her summer boot camps, golf lessons, camping trips, Iowa State Fair blue ribbons for sewing projects, A.J. Foyt driving lessons, back rubs, and her lemon pie.

Fran was an exceptional leader in everything she did, known for her strength and character. She was past-president of many civic organizations and volunteered at the hospitals.  She had a remarkable singing voice, sang many church solos, and played the organ.  Every year she won the church trophy over Bible facts.  She was a charter member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newton and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport.

Fran married Chester G. (Chet) Osborne in 1936 in Kasson, Minnesota. They had 4 children: Kay (David) Rose, LaJolla, California; Pam (Harold) Abdo, Davenport; Pat (Michael) Trotter, Newton, Iowa; and Paul, who passed away shortly after birth.  Chet passed away in 1965.  Fran married Wendall Lenton in 1972.  He passed away in 1989.  Fran had two step-daughters, Wendy (Dan) Eacret, Spokane, Washington; and Peggy (Don) Hale, Hudson, Wisconsin. Fran loved them and their children like her own.  She had one surviving sibling, her sister Ruth, of Dallas, Texas. Her grandchildren are: David Abdo and Sara (Kyle) Gott, Davenport; Jon (Christy) Troen, West Des Moines, Iowa; and Jaci (Kasey) Dammeier, Johnston, Iowa.  She has 17 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Grand Haven Retirement Community, Eldridge, Iowa; Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home, Davenport; Genesis Hospice; and St. Paul Lutheran Church for the fine care they provided Fran.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Fran’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or to the Honor Flight of the Quad-Cities.