Frances Ann Foltz

1927 - 2022

Frances Ann Foltz, 94, died late Sunday evening, August 14, 2022, at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, VA after a short illness. While family members and her pastors remained at her side all weekend, she decided to take the moment everyone left her room Sunday evening to peacefully pass away by herself. Like everything else she did in her life, she did it her way. Ann was born on

October 14,1927, the oldest of 3, to parents Paul Davis Foltz and Ida Rosetta Bowers Foltz in Mt. Jackson, VA. Her parents, along with her brothers, Paul Davis Foltz, Jr and James K. Foltz predeceased her. Three of her nieces and nephews, Cray Foltz, Gail Foltz White and Billy Joe Foltz also predeceased her. She leaves behind a niece, Susan Foltz Turner and husband John (Charlottesville, VA) and a nephew, Paul Davis Foltz, III and wife Missy (Unionville, VA). She also leaves behind grandnieces and nephews: Tracy White and partner Tony (Virginia Beach), Jimmy White and wife Mindy (Suffolk), Scott Turner and wife Caroline (Broadway), Sarah Turner (St. Petersburg, FL), Jordan Paul Foltz (Mineral) and several great, great nieces and nephews. Ann graduated from Triplett High School, Mt. Jackson in 1943, and from Shenandoah Business College, Woodstock, VA in 1944. From September 1945 through February 1952, she was a secretary for the Southern Railway in Alexandria, VA. In March 1952, she started working for what is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She was the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Parsh Education until January 1963. In February 1963, she began one of her most beloved positions/jobs with Radio Voice of the Gospel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Owned and operated by the Lutheran World Federation based in Geneva, Switzerland). This was her true calling. Through January 1972, she was devoted to spreading the word throughout Ethiopia and other areas in Africa and Asia. Ethiopia was Ann's second home. And she always, always wanted to go back.

She came "home" to the DC area in 1972. Ann earned her BA in Communications from American University in 1974, and her MA in International Studies in 1976. She then took a position at the World Bank in Washington, DC in June 1974. After retiring from the World Bank in 1987, Ann started consulting for many different groups, including the United Bible Societies for a meeting that was held in Budapest, Hungary; the first World Congress of the World Association for Christian Communication held in Manila, Philippines; the Institute for 21st Century Studies, Arlington, Virginia; and the Congress on the World Mission of the Church in the 21st Century. In Ann's own words: "As Ann moved into the 21st Century her world travels became less frequent and she spent more time on the family farm in Shenandoah County, Virginia and at her condo in Arlington, Virginia. She enjoyed hosting her many friends who came to visit from all over the world, and volunteering on projects and committees in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, her local church (Holy Trinity Lutheran) in Falls Church, VA and especially the "after school project" of Spring Forward at Zion Lutheran Church, Edinburg, VA.

Her life focus changed again on July 1, 2015 when she finally moved into an independent living apartment at Sunnyside Retirement Communities at Harrisonburg, VA, about 35 miles south of the family farm. Here she was challenged to live with 530 new neighbors with varied backgrounds, varied careers, and from many, many different locations. Here she was able to continue her exercise program, attend lectures, participate in Bible Study groups, and enjoy joining a new Lutheran Church downtown. And so an interesting life continued."

The pandemic was hard on Ann. Like many of us, Ann did not like the solitude she had to endure, especially since she had previously enjoyed participating in her exercise classes, going to church, and meeting with her writing club. During the pandemic, she looked forward to Sundays, when she zoomed with her Sunday School class at Muhlenberg Lutheran. Always very healthy, it was a surprise when she ended up in the hospital a couple of times this spring. She ended up being very weak and unable to live by herself and moved to Assisted Living, which was something she was not happy about. Her health took a very turn for the worse last week.

There is a void in all of our lives with Ann's passing. But know that she was ready to go Home to the Lord, and she passed in peace. Ann lived a long life and always served the Lord. Family and friends will celebrate her life at a Memorial Service at Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, 281 E. Market St., Harrisonburg on Tuesday, August 23 at 11:00 am. The service will also be live-streamed at www.muhlenberglutheran.org for those who are unable to attend in person. At 2:00 pm we will gather at Ann's final resting place in Zion Lutheran Church's cemetery (321 Headquarters Road), Edinburg. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Zion Lutheran Church (c/o Donna Mumaw 2471 Cave Ridge Rd, Mt. Jackson, VA 22824) for the Spring Forward Tutoring Program, or Muhlenberg Lutheran Church (281 E. Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801) for the Wellstream Digital Ministry.

If you would like to reach out to her family, please contact her niece, Susan at susan@rivannagear. com.