Frances Charlotte Auwen

Frances was born a mile west of Uncas, OK on June 13, 1925 to Lewis E and Effie Clark Bacher. She was the baby of 7. She had 2 brothers and 4 sisters.

Growing up on a farm with an original ice box, no electricity, no indoor water, outdoor toilet, horse and wagon for transportation on the family farm. She lived through the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, Wars, Conflicts. 18 Presidents and 22 Governors.

She walked the mile to school and back home. When it was time for High School, she attended Ponca City High School and graduated in 1942. She then entered Nursing school in Winfield, KS and joined the Cadet Nursing Core.

She went to work for the VA Hospital at Will Rogers Field in 1948, which is where the current Will Rogers Airport is. While there she met and married Ted Auwen in October 1950 and after they were stationed in Sumpter, SC, they returned to Oklahoma and made a home in Del City, Oklahoma and raised two children, Teddy Wayne and Charlotte Ann.

Frances took a break from nursing while living in SC and until Charlotte was born in 1956. She then returned to nursing at the VA part time Friday and Saturday for a few years and then went to a 3-day work week.

While raising her children she was a homeroom mother, band parent, and helped with cub scouts and girl scouts. She made most of her children's clothes growing up along with uniforms and dresses and vests. She was a great cook and baker, and her specialty was fried chicken and apricot fried pies.

After retiring from the VA in 1984, she went to work part-time at J's Hallmark in Heritage Park Mall and retired from there. They then bought a travel trailer and went camping with several couples that they had worked with over the years at the VA.

She survived several types of cancer and took care of Ted until his passing in 2008.

She continued to make her home with her daughter in Del City until her passing.

Once Teddy retired, he moved back to Del City to help care for her during the day until his passing last year.

She loved and cherished family and the regular visits with nephews and nieces.

When she celebrated her 100th birthday, the nephews and nieces surprised her with 100 dollar bills as she had done before; while she was living, she would send each family member a crisp dollar bill on their birthdays. She received letters from all sorts of people when she turned 100, and was totally amazed with all the attention.

Frances is preceded in death by her husband Ted of 57 years, her son Teddy, her parents Lewis and Effie Bacher, along with 2 brothers and their wives, 4 sisters and 3 husbands, nephews, a great nephew and a great-great niece.

Frances is survived by her daughter Charlotte, numerous nephews, nieces, great, great-great, and great-great-great nephews and niece; she loved and worried about all of them.

Also, a special thank you to the SSM Hospice for the kindness and wonderful care that she was given in the end.

A graveside service for Frances will be held at 10am Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Arlington Memory Gardens, 3400 N Midwest Blvd., OKC.