Frances Jean Caswell
February 26, 1922 — February 13, 2020
Frances J. Caswell, 97, of Knoxville, passed away on February 13, 2020, at the Atrium Health Union Hospital, Monroe, NC.
Frances Jean Ward was born February 26, 1922, on the family farm in rural Marion County, Iowa, the youngest daughter of Thurman (T.E.) and Cora P. Ward. She attended elementary school at Highland and Lincoln schools, graduating from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1939. Frances attended the Des Moines School of Beauty and after graduation and certification worked in several shops in Oskaloosa and Knoxville. She opened the Charm Center, serving the Knoxville community for four decades. The shop’s reputation for quality, style, and value in a comfortable and discreet environment made the business a success. An astute businessperson, she was well respected by peers, competitors, associates, and operators.
Frances married to Joe Doyle during WWII, later marrying Lowell Ridnouer in 1954 and John Caswell in 1991. She relocated to Monroe, NC, in 2014, to be close to her immediate family. Frances loved to travel and especially enjoyed a visit to Japan to visit Takashi Kume, an exchange student she and Lowell hosted for a year.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two brothers and three sisters, Step-Son John Junior, and infant granddaughter Marya. She is survived by and will always be remembered and missed by son, Mike, daughter-in-law Marilyn (whom she adored), Step-Children Carolyn, Bob, and Jane, five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, a brother, numerous nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Knoxville.
Frances Jean Ward was born February 26, 1922, on the family farm in rural Marion County, Iowa, the youngest daughter of Thurman (T.E.) and Cora P. Ward. She attended elementary school at Highland and Lincoln schools, graduating from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1939. Frances attended the Des Moines School of Beauty and after graduation and certification worked in several shops in Oskaloosa and Knoxville. She opened the Charm Center, serving the Knoxville community for four decades. The shop’s reputation for quality, style, and value in a comfortable and discreet environment made the business a success. An astute businessperson, she was well respected by peers, competitors, associates, and operators.
Frances married to Joe Doyle during WWII, later marrying Lowell Ridnouer in 1954 and John Caswell in 1991. She relocated to Monroe, NC, in 2014, to be close to her immediate family. Frances loved to travel and especially enjoyed a visit to Japan to visit Takashi Kume, an exchange student she and Lowell hosted for a year.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two brothers and three sisters, Step-Son John Junior, and infant granddaughter Marya. She is survived by and will always be remembered and missed by son, Mike, daughter-in-law Marilyn (whom she adored), Step-Children Carolyn, Bob, and Jane, five grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, a brother, numerous nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Knoxville.
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