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Frances Vontress - 100th birthday
One-hundred years ago on Feb. 1, 1923, Frances Crawley Whitaker Vontress was born to Wilbur Crawley and Irene McCammack Crawley.
Frances was a student at Greencastle High School growing up. She married James Whitaker in 1941. In 1988, she married Lester Vontress.
Jim and Frances owned and operated several restaurants throughout their careers. Frances was known for her homemade pies at those restaurants, and her grandchildren loved her fudge and divinity that she made at Christmas.
Her children include James Jr. (Sheryl) Whitaker, Max (Jeannette) Whitaker, Pamela Sue (William) Steele, John (Kathy) Vontress, Teresa (Kenneth) Lockerman and Jerry Vontress. She has 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Frances loves to watch the Indiana Pacers, IU men’s basketball and the Chicago Cubs. She enjoys completing jigsaw puzzles and adult coloring books. Frances also enjoys embroidery and gardening. She was an avid fisherman in her younger years.
Frances’ secret to living to be 100 years old? She believes that good genes play a big part, but she did not smoke, drink or attend any wild parties while she was growing up. She was a big help to her mother with cooking, cleaning and taking care of the family for her mother. And she didn’t have time to get into any trouble.
Frances also has a lot of angels that she has collected over the years and displays in her house that maybe watched over her too.
The family will be celebrating this special occasion by holding a private lunch for Frances.