Frances J. Weller

Frances Patricia Jones Weller was born in San Jose, California to Ralph Eugene Jones and Rose Matilda Jones on October 5, 1922. Her brother Robert E. Jones joined the family 2 years later. Frances' father Ralph Jones was a WWI veteran who worked for Shell oil company. Frances had an eventful life marked by the tragic early death of her mother, but she had a beloved Aunt Ann Avila who she regarded as her second mother. Frances was raised Catholic and practiced her strong faith in life and actively in church until her death. Frances offered daily prayers for her children and others in her life in need and those prayers will be sorely missed. Foundational virtues fostered from her upbringing and faith carried forward through life in her countless thoughtful and charitable acts for her family(both immediate and extended), friends, neighbors, and charitable causes.

Frances was remarkable in many ways and it showed early in her education and work. Frances Graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1940 and graduated San Jose State University in 1944. She was a member of the biology honory Beta Beta Beta. She also received a certificate for Engineering, Science and Management war training in industrial analytical chemistry (400 hours). She worked as chemist at Contadina and at Cutter Lab in San Francisco making Penicillin for the soldiers in the Pacific(WWII). Frances was a woman pioneer in this technical field dominated by men in this era. Frances was a childhood witness to the great depression and came of age into World War II. Frances determined to be educated and independent and was proud to have achieved those goals which served her well throughout her life.

Frances met her future husband Charles E Weller before the USA entry into WWII and they corresponded throughout the conflict while Charles was fighting in the Pacific theatre. After the war, Charles earnestly courted Frances and they were married April 11, 1945. Frances is now reunited with her husband of over 60 years who predeceased her in 2013 at the age of 96. Charles was a career military officer who retired as a Lt Col from the Air force and then had a second career in civil service (also working for the Air Force). Now Frances was a military spouse and looking back deserved a medal for service herself to complement her highly decorated husband. As a military spouse, Frances had to do a lot of things on her own, and used her organizational skills to accomplish change of stations(moves!), running of the household with frequent absences of her husband, and the many supporting functions that fall on a military spouse to help with his career. Frances became a mother persevered with having babies with an absent husband on mission(e.g. Berlin air lift) and raising her four children(including twins) without much help when necessary. Another remarkable feature of Frances was her boundless energy, quite frankly she was a dynamo with a very strong will who didn't sit still but was always actively improving home and hearth, or contributing in other ways to friends, church and community. That is not to say she(and husband Charles) did not take out time to enjoy life, because she had many passions and activities that she enjoyed, and shared with others.

Frances is survived by her four children, Carol Schmidt, Charles F. Weller, Steven W. Weller, and James S. Weller who all know they grew up loved, safe, and secure regardless of hardships. Frances is also survived by her son-in-law, Robert R Schmidt, five grand children, Emily Spalding, Clay Weller, Loren Weller, Blake Weller, and Clint Weller, and four great grand children, Aubrey Weller, Blaire Abrahams, Benjamin Spalding, and Eleanor Spalding. The extended family that for which she cared is extensive and too many to mention without missing many. Frances was the last surviving member of the family(Jones,Weller,Avila) of her generation and she actively worked to keep the extended family contacted and connected until her passing.

How do you distill down such a long lived remarkable life? It's not really possible, but let me try to list some of Frances interests and passions. Front and center was being a mother and complete support, participation, and guidance to her children throughout life. Frances enjoyed travel immensely and was a world traveler. Cooking and (flower) gardening, reading, geneology, entertaining, charitable activities (e.g. Daughters of the American Revolution scholarship chairman).

Bridge was a lifelong enjoyment for Frances and she developed many friendships through that activity. Many of these enjoyable pastimes have been passed onto following generations who feel them as gifts for their own enjoyments.

Frances loved and touched so many people as lifelong friends from her high school and college days, her family always including her many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, their children, grandchildren, and great grand children, and of course all the military friends from various stations throughout her husbands military service, and the many friends she met post retirement and through her many interests and activities. Frances died peacefully November 11, appropriately Veterans day, at the age of 98. That is certainly a long well lived life, but the survivors will sorely miss her. She was always there for us and will always remain in our hearts.

A graveside service for Frances will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 1:30 PM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Weller family.