Frances Culbertson Welles

Frances Culbertson Welles, 97, passed away peacefully at the Towne House Retirement Community, Fort Wayne, Indiana on the morning of Saturday, August 20. She is preceded in death by her parents, Col. Raymond and Esther Culbertson, and her two brothers, Charles and Edward and her husband, John. Her youngest child, Brian, passed away in 2021. She leaves behind her extended family, son, Gordon (Nan); and grandchildren, William, Nathaniel, Victoria and Christian; daughter, Carol (Glotfelter) (Mike); and grandchildren, Micki and David; son, Larry (Steffany); and grandchildren, Asha (McGowan), Autumn, Austin, Shelby and AnnaMarie; and daughter-in-law, Sheree; and grandchildren, Eric, Adam, Alyssa (Weaver) and Emily (Demeter); plus eight great-grandchildren. Frances Culbertson was born July 11, 1925 at Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. She lived a peripatetic childhood, following her Army Air Corps father to bases all over the United States. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1946, earning Phi Beta Kappa honors while achieving a degree in chemistry. She was hired by Eli Lilly & Co. in Indianapolis as a researcher in that same year; she met her future husband, John Welles, also a Lilly employee, at First Congregational Church. They were wed there on May 15, 1948. After the birth of their first child, Frances became superintendent of a growing family, which grew to be four children. Frances and John were both very active in their church for many years, which became the focus of their social activities as well. She served as treasurer, financial secretary, accompanist and many other duties over the years. She also served as a volunteer for the Altenheim Auxiliary for over 60 years. Later in life, she enjoyed her daily walk, knitting, doing jigsaw puzzles and word search puzzles. Brian, and his wife Sheree, who lived close by, provided extra comfort and care for both Mom and Dad in their last years, while Carol provided indispensable financial management and logistical assistance. Frances will always be remembered for her ready smile, pleasant disposition, and loving character. A celebration of life will be held at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 7031 S East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227, Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her honor to the Indiana University study that Frances participated in for many years, Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/alzheimers/giving

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Frances Culbertson Welles

July 11, 1925 - August 20, 2022