Frances Donnellon Updike

Frances Donnellon Updike died on October 21, 2011. She was in her home at Vicar’s Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, surrounded by family and friends.

Born in New York City, Fran was reared in Westchester County, NY, where her family resided first in Larchmont and later, in New Rochelle. She attended the Ursuline Academy and Barnard College where in 1943 she earned a B. A. from Columbia University. Following graduation Fran was employed by American Airlines. During WWII, she worked in their engineering department on the design of the DC-3 aircraft.

In 1945 she married Archibald R. Updike, Jr. of the United States Navy. “Arch” had just returned from the war in Europe. Shortly after their marriage, Arch and Fran moved to Lake Wales, FL, where Arch joined his family in the citrus business. Their company was called Alcoma and its grove holdings extended throughout the state. Together with her sisters-in-law, Jinny Herndon and Jean Updike, and her mother-in-law, Mildred Updike, Fran provided the base of home support for the extended family effort at Alcoma.

During her fifty years in Lake Wales, Fran participated fully in the life of the community. She was an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, serving as President of the Women’s Club and Secretary of the Western Deanery for the State. She was a charter member of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and served as its President. As an accomplished oil painter herself, she was very active in the Lake Wales Arts Council. As a philanthropist she led the effort to preserve the Spanish Mission Style Holy Spirit Church. It was designated a national architectural landmark. The restored church later became a center for the arts. The performance hall is named Updike Hall in honor of Fran.

Fran and Arch were members of the Florida Club where they advocated for the interests of the citrus industry, accompanying the Commissioner of Agriculture on trade missions to China. Fran’s other philanthropic interests included start-up funding for the Lake Wales YMCA and L’Arche Harbor House in Jacksonville, FL. In 1984, Fran was named Citizen of the Year for the City of Lake Wales.

During their life together Fran and Arch traveled extensively. They enjoyed the outdoors and hunted in the Rocky Mountains, the Alaskan wilderness and the forests of Scotland. They fished the gulf waters from Boca Grande to Chokoloskee. They made two African safaris to Mozambique and Botswana. Arch built a camp in the Everglades and together they traversed the Big Cypress in a custom built swamp buggy.

Fran is remembered for her love of faith, family, friends and fun. She was preceded in death by Arch who died in 1983 and her brother John B. Donnellon. She is survived by her sister Mary D. Blohm and her brother Samuel Donnellon. She is also survived by four children: Sam Updike of Lake Wales and his wife Amelia; Larry Updike of Lake Wales and his wife Monica; Virginia Daily of Houston, Texas and her husband Jayar; and Mary Updike of Atlantic Beach, Florida. She has seventeen grandchildren, to whom she was their beloved “Gigi”. She has twenty-four great-grandchildren. Six days before her death her entire family gathered for her 90th birthday. She participated fully in the celebration. Her family is gratified to know she went to heaven with her heart filled with their love.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday October 25, 2011, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Wales, Florida.

A memorial mass will be celebrated Thursday October 27, 2011, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady Star of the Sea, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Donations may be made to the Lake Wales Arts Council (1099 State Road 60 East, Lake Wales, Florida 33853-4208) or Our Children's Academy (555 Burns Avenue, Lake Wales, Florida 33853-3335).