Frances Bixler Rademacher, 94, who brought joy to all who knew her, entered into eternal life on Monday, May 24, 2021, in Dowling Park, Fla. She lived a life filled with spirit, laughter and the love of generations of family and friends. Born Jan. 27, 1927, in Villisca, Iowa, Rademacher was the fourth and youngest child of Robert Arthur and Vera Orme Bixler and spent her childhood in communities across Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas, before graduating from Villisca High School in 1945. She married the love of her life, Loren Rademacher, in St. Louis, Mo., in 1949. Their love story would span 68 years, include three children, six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and homes in four states. They went to Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, Fla., in 2002. Rademacher learned to roller-skate at the age of three, performing at a rink run by her father in Nebraska. She led the high school marching band while twirling a baton as a high-stepping majorette and got her first job as a soda jerk at the local drug store. After a summer stint at the Office of War Information in San Francisco, she worked as a clerk for the federal government in Omaha and St. Louis.
Her adventurous, spunky spirit and ebullient personality remained with her throughout her life as she tried skiing for the first time in her 50s, led Girl Scout camping trips, learned to drive a school bus, played bridge and traveled extensively with Loren across the United States and Europe. Above all, Rademacher loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren and visits always included laughter, popcorn and competitive games of dominoes.
Before Loren passed away in 2017, they loved to dance, listen to big band music and watch college football and golf together. During her 38 years in Maryland, she was an active member of the Damascus United Methodist Church, volunteered at the polls as part of the Republican Women's Club and was active in the Montgomery County Homemakers' Club. She is survived by her children: Karen (Rademacher) Walters and husband Peter of Waynesboro, Pa.; Sandra (Rademacher) Lombardi and husband Anthony of Orrtanna, Pa. and Thomas Rademacher of Lancaster, Calif.; sisters: Dorothy Marvick of Dowling Park and Anieta Clayton of San Francisco, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband, Loren and brother, Robert. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, at Advent Christian Village Church's sanctuary in Dowling Park, Fla., with Reverends Frank Hall and Sam Worley, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to the Advent Christian Village Benevolent Fund, PO Box 4305 Dowling Park, Fla., 32064. Beggs Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting their website at www.beggsfuneral.com.