Francita Stuart Koelsch Ulmer

Francita Stuart Koelsch Ulmer, a lifelong resident of Houston, was born the 20th May 1931, and died on Tuesday, the 8th of April 2025. She was 93 years of age. She was the daughter and only child of Robert Cummins Stuart and Frances Wells Stuart. Francita’s family connection to the region extends back six generations to the early history of Texas and is a descendant of the original three hundred settlers through Stephen F. Austin grants. Her family had a ranch that covered much of southeast Houston on the south side of Buffalo Bayou extending to Galveston Bay.

Francita attended River Oaks Elementary School, graduated from The Kinkaid School, and Wellesley College in 1953. She always treasured the friendship of her classmates. Her interest in history began in high school, continued in college and in graduate school at Rice University.

In 1959 she married her first love, Philip Carleton Koelsch, and was a devoted wife until his death in 1993. In 2000 she and Jim Ulmer were fortunate to start a second life and marriage together, both enjoyed 24 years of companionship and intellectual discussions.

Francita was a lifelong supporter of Kinkaid School, she wrote an account of the school’s early days, The Kinkaid School: First Fifty Years. In addition, she attained a Texas Historical Marker to commemorate the school’s 75th Anniversary. She received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2005, and in 2022 Kinkaid dedicated its archives in her honor.

Francita was appointed by Governor William P. Clements, Jr. to represent the Texas State Historical Association on the Battleship Texas Commission. For 35 years she served on the Harris County Historical Commission, spearheading the campaign to obtain the Garden Club of Houston’s Historical Marker located at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Francita joined the Garden Club of Houston in 1983, and was able to use her love of history to preserve GCH’s legacy. She was honored three times with the following awards: Zone Historic Preservation, Club Appreciation and Club Historic Preservation Commendation.

Always committed to her community, especially that of Christ Church Cathedral where she supported the annual “Robert C. Stuart Lenten Series,” was on the Vestry, Sunday School teacher, Altar Guild member, and a founder of the Bishop Richardson Society.

Camp Allen was founded in 1921 on land donated by Rosa Lum Allen, Francita’s great grandmother. Camp Allen was cherished and supported by Francita her whole life. She felt that Camp Allen was her family’s gift to the children and families of the region.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was an important part of Francita’s life for many decades. Francita’s grandmother Rosa Allen Stuart Williams bequeathed her an oil sketch by John Constable that sparked her love for British landscape. In 2015, she and the Museum sought out to build a collection of landscapes by British artists. The Stuart Collection now comprises 70 examples, primarily watercolors, by renowned British artists. In January of 2025, “Picturing Nature: The Stuart Collection of 18th- and 19th-Century British Landscapes and Beyond” opened in her presence. Francita established an endowment at the Museum in memory of her parents to continue adding to her legacy. She was a founding member of the Museum’s Myrtle Wreath Society, member of the Exhibitions Committee, and Library and Archives Committee. In 2020, Francita joined the Board of Trustees as an honorary member.

Francita was also an active participant in numerous groups and civic societies to which she belonged, including National Society of the Colonial Dames of America; Junior League; John McKnitt Alexander Chapter, DAR; San Jacinto Chapter, DRT; San Jacinto Descendants; Alley Theatre; Houston Symphony Society; and the Heritage Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Cummins Stuart and Frances Wells Stuart, James Gary Ulmer Jr., Rear Admiral Philip Carleton Koelsch, Robert Stuart Koelsch. She is survived by her daughter, Frances (Franny) Hubbard Koelsch Jeffries (John Jeffries); step children, Ann Ulmer Stout (Timothy Stout) and Elizabeth Ulmer (Jonathan Graham); grandchildren Philip Koelsch (Melissa Koelsch), Hal Koelsch (Finance Rachel Sparks), and Rex Bowen; and step grandchildren Thomas Stout, Andrew Stout, Emma Stout, Miles Graham, and Annie Graham. Great grandchild John Robert Koelsch.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 19th of May, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 20th of May at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue in Houston, where The Very Reverend Nathaniel Katz is to officiate.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Francita’s honor may be directed to Camp Allen, 18800 FM 362, Navasota, Texas 77868; the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX US 77002; or to a charity of one’s choice.