Frances “Frankie”
Downing, 71, passed away June 22, 2011, at her home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
She was born March 21, 1940, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Dorothy (Howard) and
Earl M. Worstell.
Frankie grew up in Collinsville. She had a lifelong interest in teaching,
developing her interest in the second grade when she gathered the neighborhood
children for “school.” She received her B.A. from Oklahoma State
University and her M.A. from San Jose State, California. She taught in
elementary schools in the Dallas, Texas; Palo Alto, California; and Kailua-Kona,
Hawaii, areas for about 40 years, retiring in 2008 as a special education
teacher at Kahakai Elementary School in Kailua-Kona. Her colleagues were
impressed by her dedication and remember how much she loved each of her
students.
The Kealaokamalamalama Church was an important part of Frankie’s
life; she made a concerted effort to become involved in every aspect of
church life and rarely missed their weekly 6:00 a.m. sunrise service.
A graveside memorial service and inurnment will be held at Hale Ho’omalu,
the church cemetery grounds, on July 2 at 9 a.m.
She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Worstell of Collinsville; one sister,
Carol Christopher and her husband Jim of Tulsa; two brothers, Earl Worstell
and his wife Donna of Sugar Land, Texas, and Michael Worstell and his
wife Susan of Collinsville; five nieces; four nephews; two grandnieces;
and two grandnephews.
An informal memorial gathering will be held at the Collinsville Community
Church Friday evening, July 8, 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Frances M. Downing
Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Send to: Evelyn Fifer, Nifty Fifties Scholarship Fund, P O Box 62, Collinsville,
Oklahoma 74021. |
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