HESSTON–Frances Fae Ridgeway passed away at age 91 on Friday, July 24, 2020.
She was born on Sept. 20, 1928, in Durham, to David and Lillie (Haas) Schlotthauer.
Frances attended elementary school in Aulne and then graduated from Marion High School in 1946 in Marion. After graduating from high school, she moved to Kansas City, Kan., to pursue a career in cosmetology. She later obtained a job at General Electric, where she worked for 36 years in accounts payable.
On May 15, 1949, she married Calvin Ridgeway at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marion. The couple resided in Kansas City, Kan., for 40 years. In 1986, the Ridgeways both retired and moved back to Marion. In 2001, they moved to Schowalter Villa Retirement Community in Hesston.
Church was very important to Frances and she was an active member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod–all her life. Frances was baptized as a baby and confirmed in 1944 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Marion. In Kansas City, she attended St. Luke Lutheran Church and when she moved back to Marion, she transferred her membership back to Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Survivors include a sister, Lois Johnson of Marion; sister-in-law, Lillian Weinreich of Independence, Mo.; nieces, Jane Johnson of Marion, Pam Levetzow and Rhonda Oleson of Kansas City, Cindy Holder of California, and nephew, Keith Kielman of Lawrence; and many grandnieces and nephews.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin, sister, Lorraine Scott, and brother, Robert Schlotthauer.
The casket was open from noon-8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Private family interment services will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
A memorial has been established with the Orphan Grain Trail mission project. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Kan., 67114.
Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
