Frances Fillmore Lakin, 95, of North Hill, Needham, Mass., passed away June 23.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Fran lost both her parents as an infant and was raised by a caring uncle and other family members who founded a religious movement and publishing center at Unity Village, Mo.
She attended Stephens College and then the University of Iowa before becoming one of the few women in the commercial radio broadcasting field in Dayton, Ohio. One of her accomplishments was getting an interview with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. In Dayton she met her husband Bob, a rising executive with General Motors who had grown up in Pemaquid. Over the years, his job took them to Detroit and various locales in Ohio while they raised their family. When an opportunity arose to move to the Boston area, they jumped at the chance to head east. After living in Wellesley, Mass. for almost 20 years, they retired to the coast they so loved in Pemaquid and wintered in Hillsborough Beach, Fla. Fran was happiest when surrounded by her loving family as she prepared a delicious meal for everyone.
Fran was a committed Christian who was deeply involved with her church, Bible studies, and prayer groups. In her younger days, she enthusiastically took leads in amateur theater groups, a natural outlet for the “ham” in her. She was known for her beautiful and strong singing voice and musical talent. While living in Wellesley, she enjoyed being a member of the Junior League and leading its garden group. During the Vietnam War, she regularly volunteered at the Chelsea Navy Hospital near Boston. Fran was known as a gifted decorator, and eventually she developed this talent into a successful business.
She was predeceased by her husband, J. Robert; and daughter-in-law, Susan.
She is survived by sons, Bob and wife Rosemary, and Chuck and wife Marti; daughter, Fran and husband David; grandchildren, Tom and wife Kate, Rachel and husband Dan, Jo, Tim, Ruth and husband Kirk, and Elisha and husband Joe; and great-grandchildren, Austin and McKenna.
There will be a private service at the historic Harrington Meeting House in Pemaquid this summer.
Donations in memory of Fran may be made to the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Development Office, 130 Essex St., South Hamilton, MA 01982, or at my.gordonconwell.edu.
To share a memory of Fran, please visit www.eatonfuneralhomes.com.