She was Aunt Gertrude’s last living relative.
Listed with her parents in 1930.
After her father’s death she applied for a marriage license on 7 Oct 1937 in Allegheny Co, PA.
[Obituary] Friends Bulletin "Building the Western Quaker Community Since 1929" Volume 72 Number 2, pg 23 | Memorial Minutes - March 2001
Frances W. Poynter
Frances W. Poynter, 92, on September 14, 2000, at Panorama City Convalescent Cen- ter, Lacey, Washington, of natural causes. Born June 15, 1908 in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Harmon and Frances (Ruttan) Sandusky. She was born into a close family home filled with educational opportunity, community service and religious experiences. Frances’ home life helped her to use her gifts to become one of the most intelligent and humanitarian people we have known.
Frances was the product of two remarkable people who were active both in community activities and concerns and in the education and upbringing of their children.
As a student, Frances did well. In 1925, like her sister five years before, Frances graduated with honors from Benton High School and served as valedictorian. She and her sister were well known in their town and people knew if there was a question to be answered or a need to fill to go to the Sandusky Girls.
Frances left her home to travel to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) where she received her BA. She then went to the University of Pittsburgh where she received her MSW. She worked in several places in Pennsylvania including the relief office; it was here that she met her husband Brooks Poynter. They were married on October 15, 1937.
After many moves, they settled in Pasadena in 1949, where they lived for 23 years. Frances did additional work in her field and was later a full time student at the Graduate School of Religion at USC. Frances helped set up the Ph.D. Curriculum, which became the School of Theology at Claremont.
Early on she became affiliated with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). While in Pasadena she was Director of Consultation and Counseling Services for the Los Angeles Council of Churches and was instrumental in setting up two mental health clinics in local churches. Frances was active with the Pacific Southwest Region of American Friends Service Committee. In her service to others, Frances would happily report the number of tires she had used up along the road.
Frances was First Day School teacher for the young teens at First Friends Church in Pasadena. As Richard Lewis recalls, “Frances was patient, caring and understanding, but also firm with this somewhat rowdy group. We appreciated the fact that she and Brooks opened their home to us and were impressed with the great number of books there, evidence of lively and inquiring intellect. We were made aware that she was active in many social and political concerns in addition to her work in the church, even if we weren’t aware of their specific nature. We were made aware, both by her and by pastor Stuart Innerst, that faith and the gospels were something to be put into practice in the family, the neighborhood, the nation and the world, not merely a faith for the salvation or comfort of the individual believer.”
In 1972 Brooks retired and the Poynters moved to Salem, Oregon where they lived for nine years. Once again Frances was involved in many aspects of that community and developed a wide-ranging group of friends. She was a member of Salem Friends Meeting serving as representative on NPYM Steering Committee, as Budget Committee Clerk, as Clerk of Ministry and Oversight, and representing Friends on the Legislative Commission of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Frances was a vital supporter of “New Call to Peacemaking,” reaching out to other peace churches to form coalitions for action.
Brooks and Frances moved to Panorama City in 1981. They specifically designed their new home with a living room big enough to hold meetings. As a couple and individually, they enjoyed being active in social and political issues. They both loved to get to know people; their intense curiosity would often lead to a polite grilling of new visitors that while disconcerting, was also warmly welcoming.
Frances was an active member of the Olympia Friends Meeting. She served on numerous committees including Ministry and Oversight and Nominating Committee. She had been our liaison to Associated Ministries, Steering Committee, FCNL and AFSC. She informed the Meeting of the concerns and work done by wider Quaker Organizations. Frances helped new members and attendees appreciate the larger fellowship that is part of being a Quaker.
Brooks died in April 1993, closing their long partnership. Frances continued her service and hospitality in many ways. A partial accounting would include: League of Woman Voters, Democratic Study Group, YWCA, Amnesty International, Sierra Club, Washington Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Priory Spiritual Center, Red Cloud Indian School, United Way, Panorama Benevolent Fund, Nuclear Awareness Group, Other Bank, Project Vote Smart, Oblate Missions, Study on Death and Dying, Planned Parenthood, and School of the Ozarks.
With Brooks gone, she was blessed with many friends. She enjoyed her home and her community. She loved the flowers that Brooks planted and that others now tended. She found great comfort in caring for both those in need and for those who cared for her personal needs. She experienced love in watching the young people in her life grow strong.
An interview from 1999 captured a steadfast belief. “I cannot think of anything in life that is not spiritual. Even at the checkout line at the grocer’s, one’s relations with others in line, the checker, all of life has a spiritual component. The importance is to be open to all events, for all have an aspect of spirituality. When Quakers worship, silence is provided for each individual to worship. I cannot believe that existence ends when breath leaves the body. I don’t look to God for specifics, only for guidance in my own life.”
Sometimes life gives us what we don’t relish. Even in that Frances took charge. She did not relish having live-in care nor did she wish to leave her home. But this last year she initiated at Panorama a focus on end of life issues, opening a discussion of how we live the end of our lives. The last week she was in the convalescence center she commented that she saw it as an opportunity to understand what issues face many residents and their families toward the end of their lives. She was a dedicated social worker once again.