Frances Brumbaugh Kawahara, age 91, of Adrian, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Charlotte Stephenson Manor surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 30, 1933 in Westminster, Maryland to Lewis Henry and Olga Kathryn (Shoemaker) Brumbaugh.
Frances attended Northland University in Wisconsin, Adrian College, Siena Heights University, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. She held a Master Plus degree and taught for over 37 years, retiring in 1990 from Adrian Training School. Frances was a member of AAUW, Drama Club, and the Adrian Moose Lodge. She enjoyed walking her labs, hiking, working in the woods, gardening, reading, and traveling.
Frances is survived by her daughter, Mary (Roger Grayer) Kawahara Howell; two stepdaughters, Debbie (Roger) Sherman, and Linda (Jose) Martenez; one stepson, Thomas Richard Howell; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her partner of over 45 years, Richard Howell; her parents; a son, Lewis Marcus Kawahara; two sisters, Jane Brumbaugh Potter and Yvonne Brumbaugh Rust; stepsister, Pauline Noffsinger, and stepbrother Eugene Joliat.
The family will receive friends for visitation at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian, on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 1:00 pm until the funeral service begins at 4:00 pm. Cremation will follow with burial of cremains in Oakwood Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in honor of Frances be made to the Kawahara-Brumbaugh Scholarship Fund, Alzheimer’s Association, or American Cancer Society. Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.