Frances Whitacre Bageant

Frances Whitacre Bageant, age 94, of Winchester, VA died January 16, 2013.

The daughter of Elizabeth and Joshua Darlington, she was born September 1, 1918 in Winchester. She married Dawson Bageant on November 3, 1947 in Hagerstown, MD. Frances worked hard to help support the family by holding positions including letter carrier, Hostess at Town House Restaurant, and clerk in Leggett Dept. Store and Montgomery Ward. She was also motor carrier for the Winchester Star for many years, and prior to retirement, she cared for the elderly in their homes. Over the years she did farm chores and was always making improvements to their old home. Frances was known for her wonderful “country cooking” and her love of animals. She spent hours watching & feeding birds, and cared for countless stray cats that found their way to her door. There was always a family dog, most recently her faithful friend “Prissy”. Her favorite pastime was shopping at the mall and yard sales. She had a love for country music and enjoyed dancing in her younger years. She attended Burnt Presbyterian Church.

Frances was loved and will be greatly missed by her four sons, Gary W. Bageant, Steven M. Bageant and his wife Daphne, Donald S. Bageant and his wife Angela, and Charles Thomas Fortune and his wife Frances. She had 5 grandchildren – Erin Thomas, Rebecca Mabe, Stephanie Sampson, Debbie Keyes, and Jeff Fortune. She also had 8 great grandchildren. Her husband, Dawson Bageant, a sister, Mary Clark, and brother, J.P. Darlington, preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 21 from 6 – 8 pm. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 22 at 11AM at Omps Funeral Home Amherst Chapel on with the Rev. Patrick Lanaghan officiating. Interment will be at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Cross Junction, VA. Pallbearers will be Gary Bageant, Steve Bageant, Donnie Bageant, Tommy Fortune, Clark Nail, and Donnie Mabe.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted at Frederick Co. Animal Shelter, 161 Ft. Collier Rd., Winchester, VA 22603 OR Burnt Presbyterian Church, 168 Burnt Church Road, Winchester, VA 22603 OR Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Roger Crosen, 110 Hunting Ridge Rd., Winchester, VA 22603.

Please view obituaries and tribute wall at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.