Tone, Frances C. 1897-1980

TONE, SPOONER, SMITH, KAWASHIMA

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/22/2012 at 13:10:23

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Jan. 14, 1980

RITES HELD FOR FRANCES TONE

Frances C. Tone, 82, of 1014 Pearl St., Grinnell, died Monday at her home.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Grinnell First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Robert C. Smith officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner, and vocalists were Patty Evans and Mary Edna Sherman. Pallbearers were Thomas Berthuson, Gregory Brown, Donovan Evans, Leonard Evans, Guilford Moore, Jack Sherman, LaForest Sherman, and Frank Spooner.

Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorials in Mrs. Tone's name may be made to the Grinnell First Baptist Church.

The daughter of Matthew and Susie Emma Spooner Smith, she was born Oct. 30, 1897, at Grinnell. She attended school here, graduating from Grinnell High School in 1915. She later attended Grinnell College and Drake University, where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school in rural Poweshiek County.

On June 15, 1921, she was married to Thomas Julius Tone. They farmed for 15 years near Gilman, later moving to a farm southeast of Grinnell. Mr. Tone died in 1964, and Mrs. Tone continued to live on the family farm until 1971 when she moved to Grinnell.

She was a member of the Grinnell First Baptist Church and was also active in the Searchlight Club, the World War I Auxiliary and the Community Club.

Survivors include her children, Mrs. Yasuhide (Ruth) Kawashima of El Paso, Tex., and Melvin Tone of Dubuque, and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and two brothers, Stanley and Austin Smith.