Fran Yoder Swartzentruber Age 91, of Sebring, Ohio transitioned to her spiritual home on Friday, September 4, 2015. Fran was born near Hartville in Portage County, Ohio on May 9, 1924 to the late John P. and Katie (Slabaugh) Yoder. Fran was married in 1982 to the late Laban L. Swartzentruber. She is survived by her sisters Alice Rini, Lura Bowin, and Catherine Gingerich; and sister-in-law Rosie (Bontrager) Yoder; 9 nephews & 7 nieces. In addition to her parents and husband, Fran was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Christner and brother Moses Yoder; brothers-in-law Nick Rini, John Bowin, Lee Christner, and Abe Gingerich & 3 nephews. Fran spent 12 years of mission work in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Rosedale, OH with Rosedale Mennonite Missions. She also taught school for two years; one of those years was spent at Lake Center Christian School. Fran received a bachelor's degree in Social Work in 1967 at the age of 43 and spent the next 15 years in geriatric services in Garrett County, Maryland. Fran was 58 and Laban was 82 years of age on their wedding day. They enjoyed 14½ happy years traveling, entertaining guests, playing Scrabble, and serving in various ways. Following Laban's death, Fran moved in 1998 to Copeland Oaks, a retirement community in Sebring, Ohio, where she resided until her death. Fran will be remembered for her ability to create beauty in this world through flower and food arrangements, and decorating her and her family's homes and wardrobes. She was an avid reader and loved all things "British". She was fiercely independent but leaned into her friendships with a trust and caring for others that endeared her to those she loved. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, September 13 from 1-3 pm at Beech Mennonite Church, 10037 Easton St NE, Louisville, OH 44641. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St, Youngstown, OH 44512 or Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, 800 S 15th St, Sebring, OH 44672. Fran's checkered career culminated in her marriage in 1982 to Laban Swartzentruber of Greenwood, Delaware. Fran was 58 and Laban was 82 years of age on their wedding day. They enjoyed 14½ happy years traveling, entertaining guests, playing Scrabble, and serving in various ways. Laban left for his spirit life in January, 1997. In March 1998 Fran moved to Copeland Oaks, a retirement community in Sebring, Ohio. She resided there 17 years in independent living, needing assistance only in her final 4 months of life. Fran will be remembered for her love to create beauty in her world through flower and food arrangements, and decorating her and her family's homes and wardrobes. She was fiercely independent but leaned into her friendships with a trust and caring for others that endeared her to those she loved. Fran's testimony is that she came into a personal relationship with God, through receiving Christ into her heart as her Savior, at the age of sixteen. The love and fellowship she found in God provided her strength in the sometimes heavy responsibilities she carried in her life. Fran's legacy is her relationships with people - those with whom she formed special attachments in the course of her professional and social lives. One of Fran's greatest joys has been having groups of friends in a cozy setting sharing stimulating conversation for hours. This she considered her privilege throughout much of her life. Fran's confident trust in God's goodness and love sustained her all her life. She wrote, "truly to walk with God is joy beyond compare and to anticipate eternity with Him is wondrous and glorious!" In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St, Youngstown, OH 44512 or Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, 800 S 15th St, Sebring, OH 44672.