Frances Schwantes

Frances Katheleen Casteen Schwantes — beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister — died at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 8, 2012, two days after suffering a stroke at the Dublin Retirement Village in Dublin, Ohio, her home since 2003. She was 89. Mrs. Schwantes was born Dec. 13, 1922, in Wilmington, N.C., to Ruth F. (Smith) and Charles H. Casteen, who, during his daughter's youth, served that city as chief of police. After attending New Hanover High School in Wilmington and graduating from Fletcher Academy near Asheville, N.C., Mrs. Schwantes studied early childhood education at what was then known as Washington Missionary College in Washington, D.C. There she met her future husband, Arnaldo Schwantes, a Brazilian-born student pursuing a degree in history and journalism. The couple exchanged wedding vows in Wilmington on June 17, 1942, embarking on a marriage that would last until his death nearly 62 years later. During World War II, Mrs. Schwantes put her training to use as a kindergarten teacher in Rockford, Ill., near Camp Grant, a U.S. Army induction and training center where her husband was part of the base cadre. After a tour of duty in Europe and his subsequent discharge, Mr. Schwantes accepted a position with Eli Lilly and Co. and moved his family to central Indiana. Mrs. Schwantes and her husband lived in Indianapolis for six decades, raising three sons, all of whom inherited their parents' intellectual curiosity, passion for scholarship and appreciation of the written word: Carlos (Mary), a university professor in St. Louis; David (Jayne), a university professor and marketing executive in Columbus; and Jon (Wendy), a journalist in Indianapolis and Columbus. Mrs. Schwantes also had seven grandchildren (Jennifer, Priscilla, Benjamin, Matthew, Jon Jr., Brian and Laura) and three great-grandchildren (Sam, Sally and Henry), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and close friends. In addition to her children, survivors include a brother, Charles B. Casteen, and his wife, Barbara, and sister-in-law Maria Schwantes. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Flanner and Buchanan-Broad Ripple, 1305 E. Broad Ripple Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46220. Services will be at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral center. Entombment will be at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to WFYI Public Media, 1630 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202. A tribute to Frances' life may be viewed online at www.flannerbuchanan.com, where condolences may be shared.