Frances Fenimore Colston

Beloved by her family and friends, Frances Colston was born in Baltimore on September 27th, 1933. She was the daughter of Edward Fenimore, a test pilot who tested and flew planes in the US, India and Turkey and Deborah Dixon Fenimore, a homemaker and Volunteer. Frances was raised in Baltimore and also on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where her father had a farm. Frances was the descen-dent of a long line of Quakers and often recounted tales of attending Silent Quaker meetings with Native Americans and eccentric poets while on the Eastern Shore. Her Quaker grandfather Isaac Dixon was one of the original founders of the Calvert School in Baltimore which he started to educate his large Quaker family.

Growing up, on the weekends Frances has the important job of clearing the cows for her father to land his plane on the field at their Eastern Shore farm and also helping him run his flying instruction business. Frances was a diligent student as a child and president of her class throughout high school at Garrison Forest School in Baltimore. She had a younger brother, Eddie, who she adored; sadly, he died of cancer in his early 20’s.

After high school she worked as a secretary and also volunteered at the library at Johns Hopkins Medical Center where her future husband John Colston was a medical doctor. Frances married Dr. John Colston, known as “Jack” in 1955 whom she met through mutual friends after he returned from the Korean War. Together they had a vibrant life in Baltimore where they raiser their four children. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in September of 2015.

Frances was always very active in the Baltimore community. She was a member of the Johns Hopkins Women’s Board as well as the Lake Roland Garden Club. She also volunteered at the Walter’s Art Gallery. But, dear to her heart was her time spent on the board of the Gilman School in Roland Park where her late brother Edward “Eddie” Fenimore attended high school. Eddie died in his early 20’s of cancer, just over a year after starting college at Princeton University. A library dedicated in his name still honors his presence at the Gilman School as well as the Edward Fenimore Award both of which have long been supported by and very important to his devoted sister Frances.

Later in life in her 40’s Frances decided to go back to school and attended Notre Dame University of Maryland. She proudly graduated Summa Cum Laude with a double major in English and Art History. After college, she published a few short stories in local magazines. She was passionate about the arts and literature which lead her to travel the world to see first-hand many great works of art. She and Jack enjoyed trips to countries around the world including India, China, South Africa and all over Europe. That love of travel and literature as well as a loving family of children and grandchildren was a constant until the end of her life. She will always be remembered as “MereMere”, her chosen name for grandmother.

In addition to her husband, Jack, Frances Colston is survived by her four children, John of Glyndon, Debby Furcolo of Chevy Chase, Letitia of Seattle, and Will of Bethesda; and nine grandchildren.

Services and interment private. A guest book is available at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com