Frances Ellen Ransmeier

Frances Ellen Ransmeier, 96, of Givens Estates died peacefully February 2, 2014 in her home. Frances Ransmeier was born April 13, 1917 in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of James Lucius Starnes and Maude White Starnes. Her family lived in Decatur, GA where she attended Agnes Scott College for two years, transferred to Emory University School of Nursing and graduated in 1939. She studied Public Health Nursing at Peabody College in Nashville, TN and went to Calhoun, GA to work with mothers and their infants. She joined the Navy in 1941 and was stationed in Pensacola, Fl for four years. After the war Frances worked at Emory University Hospital where she met Dr. John Christian Ransmeier, Jr., who was teaching microbiology. They were married December 31, 1949 and lived in the Washington, D.C. area for about 13 years where John had a private medical practice. Their three children were born there. The family moved to Asheville, NC in December of 1963, after John took a position at the VA Hospital in Oteen. Frances was devoted to her family, neighbors and civic groups. She was a member of Skyland United Methodist Church since 1964 and active in United Methodist Women, the Friendship Circle, Prayer Chain and cooked for the Loving Care Team and for homeless ministries. A woman of strong faith, she tried to infuse this belief and her beautiful values of life into her children and grandchildren. She has been a member of P.E.O. Chapter D since 1965 and served terms as president, treasurer, and secretary. Frances volunteered for over 25 years with Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry. After she was successfully treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, she volunteered for The Lewis Rathbun House, helping to inspire people dealing with cancer with wisdom gleaned from her own experience. While at Givens she participated in the Lady Huntingdon Ladies, which she and Virginia Mitchell started and she continued with the SUMC Friendship Circle that met at Givens after she moved to Wood Assisted Living. Frances was preceded in death by her younger brother, Leslie Starnes and her husband of 54 years, John C. Ransmeier, Jr. She is survived by one brother James Starnes of Stone Mountain, GA; son Joseph S. Ransmeier and his fiancé Joyce Stachura of Asheville, NC, daughter Ellen Ransmeier Boyd and her husband Richard of Dillsboro, NC, son John D. Ransmeier of Weaverville, NC, and daughter-in-law, Mary Lee Ransmeier of Boise, ID; five grandchildren: Melanie Peters, Leon Ransmeier, Siler Ransmeier, Megan Ransmeier and Jesse Ransmeier; and one great grandson, Rothko Peters. She was also blessed with many nephews and nieces. A memorial service to celebrate her beautiful life will be held Saturday, March 8th, 2014 at Skyland United Methodist Church at 1:00pm. Rev. R. Keith Turman of SUMC and Rev. Ed Hillman of Givens Estates will officiate. A private interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery. We are so grateful to all the family members who helped support and stand by her as she finished her time here on earth, to Dr. Timothy Plaut from MAHEC, all the caring staff at Givens Wood Assisted Living and to the CarePartners Hospice team who all made it possible for her to remain in her familiar home until the end. For those who desire, memorial donations may be made in Frances' memory to either ABCCM, The Rathbun House, Givens Estates Resident Assistance Fund or CarePartners Hospice. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.