29 March 1916-21 June 2017

On the evening of March 29, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bertha Beyer Elwell presented a son to her husband, Francis Evan Elwell Jr. and they named him Francis Evan Elwell III.

After residing in Elkins Park PA for two years, the family moved to Abington, PA. Francis (Frank) grew up in Abington and went through the Abington school system, graduating from Abington High School in February 1933. After a year each at North Carolina State College and Drexel Institute, he began his business career at the Charles P. Cochrane Co., a manufacturer of fine carpet and rugs.

World War 2 and the draft interrupted Frank's tenure at Cochrane's in 1942. After four months at Fort Bragg, NC, Frank attended the Officer Training School at Fort Sill, OK and was commissioned as a 2 ^nd Lt. in the Field Artillery in September of 1942. After another three months, he was certified as a Motor Officer and assigned to the 181 ^st Field Artillery Brigade, located at Camp Roberts, CA.

The year at Camp Roberts was memorable as the outfit was renamed the 947 ^th Field Artillery Battallion.  But more importantly, Frank and his gal, Constance (Connie) Schuessele, whom he had met at St. John's Lutheran Church several years earlier, became engaged in April 1943 and married on July 28 of that year. The couple began their married life in an apartment in Atascadero, CA, several miles from Camp Roberts.

In December 1943, the outfit left for service in the Pacific War Theater. Frank saw service as a Motor Officer and Ammunition Officer. He was actively engaged in the battles of Halandea, New Guinea and Biak Island as well as Late and Luzon in the Philippines. Frank was commended for, and received a Bronze Star for his service on Biak Island.

By God's grace, Frank returned home after the war in November 1945. He and Connie purchased their first home in Flourtown, PA. All three of their children began life in that home.  And while there, both Frank and Connie were active in the local church. Frank served on the church's Vestry. He became a Founding and Board Member of the Springfield-Whitemarsh Ambulance Association.

Then, since the house was very small, the Elwell's built a larger home in Fort Washington, PA where Joan, Carol, and James (Jim) grew up. They attended and graduated from the Upper Dublin schools. All of the children graduated from college: Joan from Columbia Bible College, Carol from Gordon College, and Jim from Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College.

After moving to Fort Washington, the family became active members of the Grace Baptist Church and served on Boards and committees sang in the choir, served as Sunday school teachers, and Frank became Sunday School Superintendent as well as Chairman of the Board of Elders. He and Connie were also members of the Philadelphia Area Sunday School Association, with Frank serving as treasurer.

After the war, Frank returned to Cochran's, now named Lee's Carpets (later becoming a division of Burlington Industries). In 1980, after 45 years of service, he retired as the Supervisor of Systems Services. By then, their three children were all married and had children. Joan's family had settled in Goodland, KS, Carol's family in New Britain, PA, and Jim's in Wheaton, IL.

With their children scattered in three directions, Connie and Frank retired for 20 years to Green Valley, AZ, a Retirement Community 25 miles south of Tucson, AZ. They found it to be a wonderful place to live and stay active, enjoying new friends, a caring church family, and glorious years of active life. They both became involved in a ministry at the Santa Rita Skilled Nursing Home where they had a hymn sing and Bible study every Monday for 18 years. After two years, Frank became the leader.

He and Connie also joined a group of 30 friends who became the founders of the Green Valley Evangelical Free Church. As the church grew, they sang in the choir and served as teachers and committee members and he was Chairman of the Elder Board. The church continues to grow to this day.

Without a doubt, however, Frank says, "The most significant and memorable event of our Green Valley sojourn was our 10-day trip to Israel and Egypt. To see and walk where Jesus walked made an impression that remained with me. As I read my Bible, I thought, or sometimes said, 'I was there. I saw that. "Wow!' "

In 2001, because of Connie's failing health, Frank and Connie relocated to the Holmstad in Batavia, IL, just 25 minutes from Joan and Jim and their families, living in Wheaton, IL. In God's infinite wisdom and grace, He called Connie to her heavenly home and reward on March 6, 2003.

God then brought Grace Anderson, also a Holmstad resident, into Frank's life. They were married on February 21, 2004 and have been greatly blessed as they have reached out to serve others around them.

Frank wanted everyone to know how much God had blessed him as he served the Lord. Life to him was a continual blessing as he saw God's faithful provision every day. He had a song in his heart and wrote it out, giving it the title, "There's a Song in My Heart," because of his love for his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A memorial service will be held on July 7, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in the Commons at the Holmstad , 700 W. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, IL 60510.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Holmstad Benevolent Fund, 700 W. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, IL 60510.