Florene Fratcher, 1913-2008

Published Thursday, October 9, 2008

Florene B. Fratcher, 95, a longtime Columbia resident, passed away Sunday night, Oct. 5, 2008, at her home in Candler, N.C.

Graveside services will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia, led by the Rev. Kathie Jackson of the First Presbyterian Church.

Florene was born to Elsie and Wilber Briscoe in Topeka, Kan., on Aug. 30, 1913.

She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1936 with an bachelor’s degree in biology and a teacher’s diploma. After teaching at Valle Crucis School for Girls in North Carolina for three years, she returned to school at the University of Michigan, where she received her master’s degree in botany in 1941. It was there that she met then Capt. William F. Fratcher, whom she married after graduation.

They were soon separated when he was sent to England with the Armed forces preparing for the European invasion,but they reunited at the end ofWorld War II when she joined him, living in occupied Germany for 18 months.Col. Fratcher was chief of war crimes branch of the office of military government for Germany.At the end of the Nuremberg trials, he was recalled and they moved to Washington, D.C. The Fratchers moved to Columbia the next year when Mr. Fratcher accepted a position as professor of law at the University of Missouri, where he taught for the next 40 years.

Florene was very active in the Columbia community. She served as president of Pi Lambda Theta Alumni Chapter twice, and also as president of the University Faculty Wives Club. She was a Girl Scout leader, a member of the League of Women Voters, AAUW and of the Women of the First Presbyterian Church.She was a member of the Board of the Museum of Art and Archeolog, and a buyer for the museum gift shop for 10 years.She did some teaching in elementary schools and was a visiting professor of botany at Central Methodist College.

She is survived by her brother, Steven Briscoe of Wichita, Kan.; and by her daughter, Dr. Ann Fratcher of Candler, N.C.

Florene was preceded in death by her husband, Professor William F. Fratcher.

Many who knew Florene will remember her love of flowers.

Memorial flowers may be sent to Memorial Park Cemetery for the Oct. 13 service, or memorial donations may be madeto the Fratcher Rare Book Room at the University of Missouri Law School, or to the Florene B. Fratcher Botany Fellowship Fund at Kansas University.