Frances Norris Wingate "PUNX"'s Obituary
Frances Norris Wingate, known as Punx to her friends, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2016. She was born on February 15, 1926 in Everett, MA to Elmer Osgood Norris of that city and Frances Manning Norris of Lewes, DE. She was the niece of Dr. Harrison Martin Manning from Seaford, DE, who was like a second father to her. Her sisters, Virginia (Giner) Manning Houston and Kathleen (Pepper) Osgood Mills are both deceased.
The Norris family moved to Pembroke, Massachusetts when Punx was an infant. They moved to Seaford, Delaware in 1938 due to circumstances involving the Depression. Punx attended Seaford High School, graduating in 1943. She met her future husband, Jay D. Wingate while on a blind date in Dewey Beach. They were married in 1945 when her then fiancé, Jay, returned from the European Theatre after World War II. This union gave them five children: Douglas Norris Wingate, Brad Manning Wingate (Karen Yancy), Richard Martin Wingate, Cynthia Cay Wingate, all from the Rehoboth Beach area, and Janine Frances Wingate, deceased.
Punx and Jay celebrated seventy years of marriage December 30, 2015.
A member of All Saints' Episcopal Church for the whole of her married life, she was active in all aspects of the church , in particular, as choir member for many years, member of the Altar Guild, E.C.W. Chairman, Senior Warden of the Vestry, member of St. Boniface chapter. On a Diocesan level, Punx served as corresponding secretary for the Diocesan E.C.W., was a delegate to the Women's Triennial of the General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana, and served on the Diocesan Committee to Promote the Ordination of Women. She also maintained ties to the 1726 Cool Spring Presbyterian Church near Harbeson where many of her maternal ancestors played a major role in its founding and care. When her youngest daughter entered Kindergarten at the Rehoboth Elementary School, Punx worked as the assistant there for several years, and always enjoyed the associations with many of the children as they grew up through the years. After her children reached a certain amount of independence, Punx became a very involved advocate for people with disabilities. She served as a hands-on volunteer at the Delmarva Easter Seals Center, eventually becoming a member of the board and then Chairman. She was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council on Mental Retardation, which she chaired for five years. This was during the time when Group Homes for people with mental retardation were first established. She served for five years as chairman of that council. She served on the board of Delaware Association of Retarded Citizens during which time she monitored group homes as well as Stockley Center. She was appointed by Governor du Pont to serve on the State of Delaware's first Architectural Accessibility Board.
Punx was an amateur artist. She attended the Norton School of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida prior to her marriage. She became active in the Rehoboth Art League serving as a Trustee for three different terms and as Vice-President. She was involved in the early days of the Art League when the only building on the grounds was the 18th century Peter Marsh Homestead which served as the business center of the Art League. Punx enjoyed recording and searching out her family history in Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland. She was invited to join the Friends of the Fisher-Martin House in Lewes by then Lewes Mayor Al Stango. She was always delighted that the he chose to make her an honorary member of that city. Above all, she loved and was proud of her own family. She leaves behind her husband of 70 years, Jay, four of her children and spouses as mentioned above, six grandchildren and their spouses and four great grandchildren.
A private burial will be at All Saints Cemetery, Angola, in the family plot.
If it is the wish of friends to memorialize Punx, the family suggests that contributions be made to All Saints' Episcopal Church 18 Olive Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971 or Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 36, Harbeson, Delaware 19951.
Please sign Punx online guestbook located on this site.
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