Frances Jane Hupp

Frances Jane Clark Hupp was born on July 5, 1923 on the family farm near Lillis, Kansas, rural Frankfort, the seventh of eight children born to Thomas C. and Minnie Stevens Clark. She passed from this world at 11:12 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at Midland Hospice in Topeka. She resided at McCrite Plaza for the last three and one-half years.

Upon meeting Earl W. Hupp at a USO dance in downtown Topeka, the two married on April 7, 1945 at Assumption Church. They were married almost 60 years.

Frances attended Irish Creek Valley Grade School and graduated from Frankfort High School in 1941. She graduated from Stewart’s Beauty School in 1943 and was employed as a beauty operator for over 25 years at Holiday Square and Highland Crest shops in Topeka. She completed secretarial training at Kaw Area Vo-Tech School and applied her training as a project leader for the 1980 U.S. Census Office in Topeka where she worked as a recruiter and supervisor for a 28-county area.

Frances was a proud Kansas Democrat! She served as precinct leader and secretary (1962-68) and vice chair (1968-76) of the Shawnee County Democratic Central Committee. A highlight of her life was serving as a Kansas Delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami. In 1974, she was a delegate to the Democratic Mini Convention in Kansas City and nominated to Who’s Who in American Politics. Earl and Frances were invited and attended President Carter’s Inaugural in Washington, D.C.

Upon her retirement in 1979, Frances and Earl enjoyed winters in Mission and McAllen, Texas, for ten years and travel to California and Mexico. Frances was a master quilter, having hand-pieced over 30 quilts, large and small. A quilt block was always in her hand while traveling. She tended a garden until she was 88 years old. Throughout her life, she canned produce, made pickles, jams and jellies. She was an accomplished seamstress, making most of the children’s clothing, and a published poet with many poems to her credit.

A devout Catholic and charter member of St. Matthew Catholic Church, she was an active member of the St. Martha Guild and Altar Society. She was active in the Hayden Mother’s Club and was especially proud that her three children were Hayden High School graduates. Frances was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 239, at Overbrook. She also served as co-leader of Tom’s Boy Scout Troop and chauffeured kids to ballgames where she often kept score. Frances was a volunteer at heart, baking cookies and giving tours at Historic Ward-Meade for 25 years. Always placing top priority on her family, and in later years, supporting her grandchildren. She enjoyed organizing and planning family reunions especially the yearly Clark Reunion. Family genealogy was a favorite pastime and trips to Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia were always productive.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, on February 20, 2005; a son, Thomas Allen; and her parents and six siblings: Mary, Thomas, Jr., Mark, John, Elizabeth and Paul. She is survived by daughters, Linda Morse, Manhattan and Carol (Doug) Cook, Topeka; daughter-in-law, Joyce Hupp; sister, Louise Reust, Frankfort, KS; and sister-in-law, Genitha Clark, Topeka

Grandchildren Mike Brown, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Todd Brown, Anchorage, Alaska; Joanne Rolph (Shawn), Delphos, Kansas; Angela (Patrick) Davis, Topeka; Michelle Hupp (Adam Ramsey), Mason Neck, Virginia; Bobbi (Mark) French, Wamego; Staci (Larry) Ballard, Des Moines, Iowa.

Great-grandchildren include Kelly Rolph, Wamgo; Meagan Rolph, Kansas City, Missouri; Marc Rolph, Manhattan; Dalton Brown, Au Sable, Michigan; Tanner Brown, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kyler (Jessica) Cook, Riley, Kansas; Ridge Davis, Wamego; Kelsie Davis, Topeka; Thomas Ballard; Alexis French and Reagan French; Justice Mole-Brown, Jubilee Mole-Brown; and Alanna Hiraga Lodzinski, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Great-great-grandchildren Riley Cook and Braylen Bushman, also survive. Frances is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew Catholic Church with a Parish Rosary at 10:00 a.m. Following the Rosary, Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in West Lawn Memorial Gardens.