Frances Ruth (deRoos) Baron

At the age of 97 years Frances Ruth (deRoos) Baron left this world to be with her Lord and Savior, her husband, George Earl Baron and her dear parents on Friday, June 7, 2019. Frances (Fran) was born on September 30, 1921 in Overisel, MI to Rev. Frank deRoos and Ruth Matilda (Veldhuis) deRoos. Her father passed away before she was born, a sadness she carried her entire life. Fran dedicated herself to the church, education and her family. At the age of 12 she began playing the pump organ at the Overisel Reformed Church and continued playing well into her 80's. After graduating from the Overisel one room school and Holland High School, Fran went off to Western Michigan Teachers College (later named Western Michigan University) at the age of 16. On February 8th 1943 Fran married her true love, George Earl Baron, son of Henry and Gertrude (Elenbaas) Baron of Zeeland, MI. He was in the Navy and stationed in Oakland, CA, so off to California the two of them went by train. While George served our country during WWII, Fran worked for our government as a civilian. She typed government documents flawlessly and quickly - a trait she kept her whole adult life. Following WWII, Fran and George returned to Zeeland, MI where he went to work and she resumed her teaching career. Fran taught for several schools in Allegan and Ottawa counties retiring from West Ottawa Schools with 37 years of service. Fran and George were blessed with 3 children: Jane (Baron) and David Folkert of Jamestown, Ann (Baron) Frieswyk of Holland and Frank and Beverly (Dipp) Baron of Caledonia. They were grandparents to 7 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. One of Fran's proudest moments in her educational career was the day she walked across the stage to receive her Doctorate of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio on June 4, 2005 at the age of 83. Those left to remember her and tell the stories over hot coffee are her 3 children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, a niece and nephew, her church family at Beechwood Church in Holland and special friends Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beltman, Mrs. Evelyn Boonenberg, Mrs. Betty Fleser, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rabe, Mrs. Marilyn Norman and her friends at Readers World in Holland. Special thanks to Medilodge of Holland for their loving care in Fran's final days and to Hospice of Holland for the support given to Fran and her family. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2019 at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 South State Street, Zeeland. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Beechwood Church, 895 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland. Interment at Zeeland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donation gifts to the Howard Miller Public Library. www.yntemaf

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Frances Ruth (deRoos) Baron

September 30, 1921 - June 7, 2019