Ewy, Frances Marie Becker (1921-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Jan 31 p. 9

Birth date: 1921 Jan 3

text of obituary:

FRANCES BECKER EWY

Frances Marie Becker Ewy, 83, of Fresno, Calif., died Dec. 14, 2004. She was born Jan. 3, 1921, to Henry J. Becker and Ruie Ratzlaff Becker in the family farmhouse near Helena, Okla. She graduated valedictorian from Helena High School and majored in business at Bethel College, North Newton, Kan.

She taught for two years at Macksville High School and three years at Buhler High School in Kansas before teaching at Bethel College in 1947. She earned a master of business administration degree from the University of Denver in 1949. On June 1, 1950, she married Daniel J. Ewy of Reedley, Calif.

In 1951, they moved to Fresno. She was a homemaker and mother for 15 years. She returned to teaching business at Reedley College for 18 years, retiring in 1984.

During World War II she directed a girls' summer voluntary service unit of Mennonite Central Committee at Norristown (Pa.) State Hospital. She was active in the League of Women Voters in Fresno. From 1978 to 1986, she did bookkeeping for the Et Cetera Shop in Fresno.

She served on the Mennonite Historical Society Board and the West Coast Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale Board.

She served in many capacities at Mennonite Community Church of Fresno. She was the first woman elected as chair of the church. She served on the church's Integration Committee of the West Coast Mennonite Church, General Corderence [sic Conference].

She had a loving commitment to her family. She cared for her husband in his decline with Alzheimer's disease.

Survivors include four children, Annette Percival and her husband, Timothy, of Sparks, Nev., Richard Ewy and his wife, Kathy, of Clovis, Phyllis Tappe and her husband, Allan, of Moraga, and Gordon Ewy of Fresno; a brother, Paul Becker of Bethlehem, Pa.; a sister, Janora Ratzlaff of North Newton, Kan.; and and seven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel, on April 15, 2002; and a sister, Phillis Jantzen of Meno, Okla.