1917
Mrs.
2008
Mrs. Frances Washam
August 6, 1917 — October 29, 2008
Frances Zurcher Washam, 91, died peacefully Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at her home at the Atriums in Overland Park, KS. She was born on August 6, 1917 in Elgin, Illinois, to Marguerite and Albert Zurcher. She and William Warner ?Bill? Washam were married March 21, 1941 in Philadelphia, MO. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1993.
Frances attended elementary and high school in Marceline. She received her 60-hour Life Certificate and Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville (formerly Kirksville State Teachers College). She was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Special Education from Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville, TN. She earned 48 graduate hours beyond her master?s degree from a number of institutions including the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg, Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville, the University of Arizona at Tempe, Mankato State College in Minnesota, and the University of Wyoming at Laramie.
As a life-long advocate for education, Frances began her 32-year teaching career in the Marceline school system on the second-grade level. In 1951 she developed a Special Education program in Marceline which became a pilot program for other school districts in northeast Missouri. Prior to joining the teaching staff of the North Kansas City school system in 1961, Frances and her husband Bill lived briefly in Rantoul, IL, Phoenix, AZ and Prairie Hill, MO.
While in the North Kansas City district, Frances taught in the Golden Oaks, Norclay and Oak Ridge schools. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Frances served as a member and chair of many committees. Some of her professional contributions and honors include past-president of the Northwest Missouri Teachers Association; three-term member of the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) Welfare Committee, two of the terms as chairman; president of the North Kansas City Community Teachers Association (of MSTA); chairman and member of the Local Welfare Committee; president of the Missouri State Federation, Council for Exceptional Children; member of the Committee on Curriculum Change for Elementary Teacher Training, Northeast Missouri State University; recipient of the Caroline B. Uhlman Scholarship; and member of the Missouri Society of Crippled Children. She was also a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
During her term of service as the Missouri state president of the Council for Exceptional children, Frances was invited to give testimony in Washington, D.C. before the House Ways and Means Committee. She testified in support of funding for education of exceptional children and presented the concept of pre-school classes for the exceptional child. She retired from teaching in 1978.
In 1948, Frances and her husband Bill settled in Marceline and became active in a number of civic projects. Frances was a member of, and an officer in, many community organizations including the Ladies Home Culture Club (president and member), Chapter AQ P.E.O., D.A.R., Eastern Star, Retired Teachers, the Sorosis Study Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Children of the Pioneers, Nu Phi Mu Sorority (sponsor), Marceline Community Betterment, the Walt Disney Pool Dedication Committee, and the Disney Stamp Day Committee. She was the co-founder of Alpha Nu Beta Sorority, and one of four founding Directors of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
In 2001, Frances moved to Overland Park, KS and became an active resident of The Atriums community. She participated in choir, reading to the school children, aquatics and yoga.
Frances Washam is survived by her sister Hazel Knutson and husband Stuart Knutson, Overland Park, KS; sister-in-law Donna Zurcher, Kirksville, MO; eight nieces and nephews; 15 great-nieces and nephews; and three great-great nieces and nephews; and cousins. In addition to her husband Bill, she was preceded in death by her parents; brother Albert Zurcher and his wife Virginia; sister Elise Zurcher Rivera and her husband Fred; sister Ruth Zurcher Hetrick and her husband Leonard; sister Marguerite Zurcher; and brother Robert Zurcher.
Frances attended elementary and high school in Marceline. She received her 60-hour Life Certificate and Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville (formerly Kirksville State Teachers College). She was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Special Education from Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville, TN. She earned 48 graduate hours beyond her master?s degree from a number of institutions including the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg, Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville, the University of Arizona at Tempe, Mankato State College in Minnesota, and the University of Wyoming at Laramie.
As a life-long advocate for education, Frances began her 32-year teaching career in the Marceline school system on the second-grade level. In 1951 she developed a Special Education program in Marceline which became a pilot program for other school districts in northeast Missouri. Prior to joining the teaching staff of the North Kansas City school system in 1961, Frances and her husband Bill lived briefly in Rantoul, IL, Phoenix, AZ and Prairie Hill, MO.
While in the North Kansas City district, Frances taught in the Golden Oaks, Norclay and Oak Ridge schools. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Frances served as a member and chair of many committees. Some of her professional contributions and honors include past-president of the Northwest Missouri Teachers Association; three-term member of the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) Welfare Committee, two of the terms as chairman; president of the North Kansas City Community Teachers Association (of MSTA); chairman and member of the Local Welfare Committee; president of the Missouri State Federation, Council for Exceptional Children; member of the Committee on Curriculum Change for Elementary Teacher Training, Northeast Missouri State University; recipient of the Caroline B. Uhlman Scholarship; and member of the Missouri Society of Crippled Children. She was also a member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
During her term of service as the Missouri state president of the Council for Exceptional children, Frances was invited to give testimony in Washington, D.C. before the House Ways and Means Committee. She testified in support of funding for education of exceptional children and presented the concept of pre-school classes for the exceptional child. She retired from teaching in 1978.
In 1948, Frances and her husband Bill settled in Marceline and became active in a number of civic projects. Frances was a member of, and an officer in, many community organizations including the Ladies Home Culture Club (president and member), Chapter AQ P.E.O., D.A.R., Eastern Star, Retired Teachers, the Sorosis Study Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Children of the Pioneers, Nu Phi Mu Sorority (sponsor), Marceline Community Betterment, the Walt Disney Pool Dedication Committee, and the Disney Stamp Day Committee. She was the co-founder of Alpha Nu Beta Sorority, and one of four founding Directors of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
In 2001, Frances moved to Overland Park, KS and became an active resident of The Atriums community. She participated in choir, reading to the school children, aquatics and yoga.
Frances Washam is survived by her sister Hazel Knutson and husband Stuart Knutson, Overland Park, KS; sister-in-law Donna Zurcher, Kirksville, MO; eight nieces and nephews; 15 great-nieces and nephews; and three great-great nieces and nephews; and cousins. In addition to her husband Bill, she was preceded in death by her parents; brother Albert Zurcher and his wife Virginia; sister Elise Zurcher Rivera and her husband Fred; sister Ruth Zurcher Hetrick and her husband Leonard; sister Marguerite Zurcher; and brother Robert Zurcher.
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