Obituaries

Frances Louise Nelson passed into the arms of her Creator on Saturday, September 21st, her family around her.

Frances was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee on September 19, 1932, to a Presbyterian minister, Thomas Edgar Nelson, and a social worker, Louise (Lou Jane) McDaniel Nelson.  Frances, her parents, and three older brothers, Tom, Bill, and Bob, lived throughout the southeast following her father’s calling. 

At an early age, Frances demonstrated a caring heart and a keen intellect.  As a young girl, she was a pen pal to a Japanese-American girl in a World War II internment camp.  Frances was not only an excellent student, she loved learning.  The first of her three college degrees was in music at Flora MacDonald College.  Continuing her studies at the University of Tennessee she met her former husband (but lifelong friend), Charlie Krauth.  Fervently believing that their calling in life was to show God’s love and help others, they served in South Korea as Presbyterian missionaries. 

Frances was an adventurer!  She served in a Korean village with no indoor plumbing and pumped all her family’s water.  She considered this one of the happiest times in her life.  Frances taught English in Korea, China, and Spain.  She moved to Lincolnton, a town she dearly loved, in 1999.  She sang in the choir at First Presbyterian, taught piano, and volunteered with Bosnian refugees and with Hospice.  Frances was also an author, artist, and human rights activist.
 
She was a loving mother who taught her children to love God and their neighbor, that museums are the best way to spend an afternoon, that classical music makes a house a home, that we are on earth to help others, and that kindness is everything.  She loved Korea, singing, Montreat, family history, and chocolate milk shakes. 

She is survived by daughter, Elizabeth Krauth and husband Thomas Oprendek of Corte Madera, CA; sons, Charles Krauth of Irondale, AL, Robert Krauth and wife Marianne Crossley of Tega Cay, SC and Thomas Krauth of Lincolnton, NC; brother, Robert “Bob” Nelson and wife Patsy of Wilmington, NC; sister-in-law Bobby Nelson of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Ian Oprendek, Liam Oprendek, Erin Krauth and Tyler Crossley, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
 
She is much loved and will be deeply missed.  Frances’ service will take place at 2:00 on Saturday, October 5th, at First Presbyterian Church in Lincolnton, NC.