Obituary - Frances E. Price

Wednesday, November 21, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Frances Elaine Price died at home in Juneau on Nov. 16, 2001, with her family at her bedside.

She was born Aug. 18, 1921, in Murdo, S.D., where her parents were homesteading. She spent her youth in Sheldon and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, attended Coe College, and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in textiles and design in 1943. She joined the Navy WAVES and was an aerial gunnery instructor, Sp.G 3rd class, from 1943-45.

She was married to a naval aviator from 1945-72, and the family lived in Venezuela, the Philippines, Morocco and Spain, as well as in several parts of the United States. She loved traveling and explored every continent except Antarctica.

After returning to college in 1964, she became a librarian and retired from the library of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., in 1985. In 1991 she moved to Juneau to be near her daughter. For the last 10 months of her life, she lived at her daughter's home. She was a voracious reader, loved to play bridge, had a deep interest in current events, and, after moving to Juneau, developed a passion for fishing and wildlife viewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Col. Raymond Templin Benson and Margaret Thompson Benson, Harrisonburg, Va., and by her sister Joanne Wright, Amarillo, Texas.

She is survived by brother Rush Benson, Gettysburg, Pa.; sister Marilynn Ratajczak, Cleveland Heights, Ohio; daughter Lynn Wallen, her husband R. T. "Skip," and their son Tor, Juneau; son Raymond Price, his wife Margaret Skeel and their sons James and Daniel, New South Wales, Australia; daughter Margaret Carlson and her children Michelle and Scott, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; and 13 nieces and nephews.

At her request, no local service will be held and her ashes will be scattered at sea near her favorite fishing spot. Her life will be celebrated at a family reunion in July 2002.

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