Francais "Fran" Louise Weddle

Francais Louise Weddle went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on September 21. Fran was born in Arthur, MO on March 6, 1928, in the home of her grandparents. She is affectionately known as “Aunt Fran” (Tia Fran) by the many ABWE Missionary Kids (MKs) she taught and mentored in Peru. Raised in a Christian home, she spent her youth living on several farms in MO and IA. She received Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at the age of 10. A hard and dependable worker, as a youth she especially enjoyed helping her mother in the vegetable gardens and the chicken-raising efforts which were always maintained to feed the family. After graduation from Logan High School in 1946 where she excelled in her studies and played basketball, Fran taught school at several rural schools in Iowa and Missouri; she attended the State College of Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA working in veterinarian research for the school from 1952 to 1954; she then attended Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, NY (1954-1959) graduating with a Bachelor of Religious Education degree and a Teachers Diploma. In 1965, she was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree from the State College of Iowa. After graduation from Seminary in 1959, Fran applied to the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) candidate school and was appointed as a missionary of the Gospel of Christ in October,1959. After being appointed to Peru (which was her preference), she attended language school in Costa Rica and entered the field in Iquitos, Peru in 1961, teaching at the Emmanuel Baptist Academy. Through her unselfish and tireless work with the Peruvian nationals and missionary children, “Tia Fran” positively impacted dozens of young lives, leading many Peruvian children to the Lord, while discipling Peruvian women and teaching missionary children (MKs). One of her earlier MK classrooms was set up in an area behind one of the missionary houses in Iquitos, Peru. The advantage, to Tia Fran, was that the chicken wire kept most of the critters out of the classroom. Her successful and positive impact on young lives is evident, even today, as many of her MK’s keep in touch with her, tell fond stories and smile and laugh when they think of Tia Fran. Their continued lives of service to the Lord is, in part, an undeniable living memorial to her positive influence on their young lives. She endured the harsh Peruvian environment and the Amazon River with a smile and a reflection of humility and service, for over 32 years. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Fran enjoyed many aspects of witnessing for her Lord. One of her colleagues noted that she enjoyed encouraging nationals into leadership positions, teaching all levels of Sunday School, loving and discipling girls and women, visiting people’s homes providing clothing, food, medicines and comfort to those experiencing sorrow and loss Fran taught in the Iquitos Baptist Bible Institute in both the resident and extension programs, enjoying teaching Christian Ethics. She retired from the field in 1993. After her retirement, she moved to Neosho, MO to become the primary caregiver to her father until his death in 1996. At that time, Fran moved to Camp Hill, PA to live with her long-time friend and missionary colleague, Sandra Lyons, to work as a volunteer in the Finance Department at ABWE Headquarters, continuing in service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and in service to those that serve Him so faithfully throughout the world. She also ministered to the elderly by reading to shut-ins at the Messiah Lifeways Retirement Community in Mechanicsburg, PA. Her life-long service to the Lord was recognized by receipt of the ABWE Edward and Marion Bomm Award, for over 50 active years of service. In 2013, Fran officially retired to Maranatha Village in Sebring, FL. Throughout her life, Tia Fran fully embodied and demonstrated the essence of service to our Lord by being a truly humble Servant to others in the name of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Aunt Fran was undeniably, the best letter writer ever. She could get more content on one piece of paper than anyone by using all four margins and every available blank space. She also was a great source for Weddle family history and kept track of her 40 first cousins, acutely aware and proud of her roots in Missouri. Aunt Fran was preceded in death by her parents, James Leo and Vera Elizabeth Miller Weddle, brother Robin Elroy Weddle, infant brother James Leon Weddle, sister Jessie Lee Anna Weddle Bryson, sister-in-law Doris Pace Weddle, brother-in-law Richard Bryson, nephew Bruce Bryson and three grand nephews, Brian Weddle, Daniel Weddle and Duane Weddle. Aunt Fran is survived by niece Abby Lynn Bryson Jones (Bruce) of New Mexico, nephew Dr. David L. Weddle (Sharon) of Colorado, nephew Philip C. Weddle (Marcia) of Florida and nephew Timothy L. Weddle (Jeanne) of Arkansas, 7 grand nieces and nephews, 8 great grand nieces and nephews, and 4 great-great grand nieces and nephews. Funeral Service will be held at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Sebring, FL and burial will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Avon Park, FL. Arrangements are through Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring, FL. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Fran’s name to the ABWE Global Ministry Fund or the Maranatha Manor, Sebring, FL.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
4001 Sebring Parkway
Sebring, FL 33870
Online condolences may be left at:
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com