Frances Anna Schwartz, affectionately known as “Franna”, died peacefully in her room at the Vashon Community Care Center where she was a resident from August 2008 until her sudden and unexpected death on Friday, November 20, 2009. She had just celebrated her 91st birthday on November 1. She was born in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, the fourth child of Frederick F. Brookshaw and Anna Marie Richter. She graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1936. In 1941, she married Howard E. Hines and the young couple took up residence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Howard was employed as a machinist by Allis Chalmers. Their daughter was born in 1943. Shortly after, Howard joined the Army Air Corps and went on to be trained as a B-24 bomber pilot with the 445th Bombardment Group of the Second Air Division of the 8th US Air Force. On April 24, 1945, Howard was killed when his plane crashed during a non-combat flight in England. He was the love of her life, and Frances kept his memory until her own death.

In 1953 she married Peter M. Schwartz but was widowed a second time when he died in 1967. Franna was a secretary. She moved to Seattle in 1975 and worked as a secretary in the Graduate Program Office of the School of Nursing at the University of Washington until her retirement. Franna served as secretary of the Greater Seattle Chapter of the Gold Star Wives. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Franna moved to Vashon Community Care Center in August 2008 to be near her daughter and son-in-law. Franna enjoyed her life at VCCC. She received very good care from kind, loving and compassionate caregivers and participated fully in the wonderful and meaningful activities arranged by the activity directors there. She is survived by a sister, Florence Junkman, of Woodbury, Minnesota, and a brother, James J. Brookshaw of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, her daughter Sharon Hines-Pinion and her son-in-law, William J. Pinion of Vashon, Washington, eight nieces and nephews and several cousins.

Memorials may be made to Vashon Island Community Care Center, 15333 S.W. Vashon Highway, Vashon, WA 98070.