Mary (Fraim) LaFrance, Class of 1942

Mary LaFrance, "Bompie" to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild, went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on September 22, 2011. She was born September 28, 1925, in Del Rio, Texas. In heaven she will be met by her husband, Tom LaFrance; her parents, Ray and Oma Fraim; her sister, Rosamond Hill; and countless family and friends of years past.

Mary graduated from Del Rio High School in Del Rio, Texas, in 1942. She was the drum major of the Del Rio Wildcat Band. She spoke of those days as some of the happiest and most fun years in her life. A spunky "gal" with long red hair, she enjoyed playing boogie-woogie on the piano, dancing, and just having a good time with all of her friends. She was in a jazz band and played at dances, and said the only thing she didn't like about playing was that she couldn't get up and dance.

She is survived by and will forever be remembered by her son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Bunnie LaFrance of Luray, VA; her daughter, Connie Mae LaFrance, of Kyle, Texas; her grandchildren, Nic Whitworth, Jennifer Miller, Jackie Brown, Christie Grieve, and Jamie Beard; her 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; who all rejoice that she is now dancing with Jesus and her loving husband.

A memorial service for Mary will be held on her 85th birthday, Wednesday, September 28 at 1:00p.m. at the Main Street Baptist Church in Luray, Va. A graveside service will be held at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, where she will lie with her husband who served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. The date and time for this service has not been set. Memorial may be sent to the Blue Ridge Hospice or Page County Habitat for Humanity, both of Luray, Va.