Frances Morley Walden

Our dad always referred to her as “The Go-Go Girl”. No sooner would she get home from one event, then she’d turn around and head out for another. Mom taught 1st (and sometimes 2nd) grade for 38 years, and she frequently would run into her students around town, and ended up teaching the children of her first students. After her master’s degree, she earned 30 credits in special education in order to meet the needs of her students in the best possible way. A childhood friend, Robert Walden came back to Bloomington after serving in the Korean War and reconnected with Frances. They were married on June 25th, 1954 and had three awesome daughters (she made us promise to put that in here, honest!), Julia, Ellen, and Roberta. The eldest was always in trouble for not being born during spring break of Mom’s senior year at Indiana University, a much more convenient time frame for a busy lady! Mom retired from teaching in 1995 to take care of Dad, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. After several years of loving care, Dad passed away in 2007. Neither grief, nor retirement slowed her down. Her typical week was filled with activity. It could be a shift at Opportunity house, or Bible Study, or choir, or Music Makers practice. If not those activities she could be playing bollyball, or attending a retired teacher’s luncheon. Or she may have had a VITAL tutoring session followed by a Home Extension club meeting. Home extension club meetings led to involvement in the county fair. Every year she went a little nuts making MANY items to enter into MANY categories. After recuperating from the fair frenzy every year, things started to ramp up for the annual Senior Games. Mom participated in several events, and was on the committee for many years. She was also active in her beloved Fairview church. She started attending Fairview Methodist Church when she was seven years old. Her family lived in a house situated on part of the parking lot of the church. She sang in the choir, attended bible study, and took communion to housebound members with her dear friend Darlene Harbuck. She was also a member of the Church of Women United and the Church Circle. Mom was an avid volunteer, working countless hours for many organizations over the years, including Senior Games, Opportunity House, and the Monroe County Fair Art Department. In addition to singing in the church choir, she loved singing and performing with the Music Makers. One of her favorite all time passions was attending IU basketball and football games. Saturdays she could usually be found cheering at a game. She usually met her sister and brother to tailgate. Sunday was filled with church, singing in the choir, and lunch afterwards with friends. Even her downtime was active. While watching TV (usually football or basketball or her favorite game show, “Match Game”) she spent many hours sewing and stuffing small ‘hug-a-bears’ that were donated to the pediatric unit at the hospital. She had a bag ready to donate and another batch cut out, ready to sew, when she passed. Throughout it all, she made a point to get the family together for weekly dinners as long as she was able. She would apologize when her out of state daughters visited because, even though she had cancelled several things, there were always two events she absolutely had to attend and inevitably tried to drag said daughters with her. We were so proud of her for keeping busy and leading a fulfilling life. Mom was at peace with her death, she said “I’ve lived a very good life”. She only had one regret. She was trying to get to 100 blood donations and only made it to 97 before her health made it unwise. As mom jokingly suggested when we buried dad in 2007, “The marker says ‘Together Forever’ but maybe it should say ‘Together at Last’ “because his Go-Go girl has finally come home to rest. We will all miss her very much. Frances Morley Branam Walden was born June 25, 1933 to Merle and Turi Elizabeth Branam. She passed away at her home on October 6, 2020 at the age of eighty seven years. Frances was predeceased by her husband Robert, parents Merle and Turi Branam, sister Sydney McClary, and brother George Branam, MD. She is survived by daughters Julia ((Bob Schulz) from San Diego, CA, Ellen from Orlando, FL, and Roberta who stayed home in Bloomington and who was Mom’s stalwart companion and go-to for all things big and small. Her sisters are eternally grateful for her care of Mom. Frances is also survived by five grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. If you choose to make a memorial contribution, it may be directed to Fairview United Methodist Church (600 W. 6th Street Bloomington, IN 47404) or a charity that is near and dear to your heart. Funeral Services are scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2020 at 2:00 PM in Fairview United Methodist Church, 600 West 6th St. with Reverend George Hartzog officiating, burial will follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens. There will be a gathering of family and friends prior to services on Friday from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. The family of Frances M. Walden would like to thank IU Health Hospice for making it possible to give our mother the peaceful death in her own home that she wished for. We would not have been able to care for her and keep her at home without the help of Hospice. Thank you so much! We also appreciate all of the cards, food, broth, flowers, phone calls and visits we received. Mom left this world feeling loved and treasured. Thank you.