Born: 13 Jul 1926, Catawba County, NC
Died: 17 Sep 2015, Sherrills Ford, Catawba County, NC
Glennie Frances
Loftin was the 13th child born to
Alonzo Lester Loftin and
Ida
Lillian Setzer. Frances was born 13 Jul 1926 in Catawba
County, North Carolina.
Frances was a
young girl when Alonzo lost his wealth during the Great
Depression of 1930. Most of her brothers and sisters were
grown. Only Frances, Oscar and
Sam were still living at home.
In time, Alonzo opened a new store in the Charlotte area
but he seldom got to come home to see his
family. Frances remember her older brothers, Charlie and
Theodore, taking
Ida and her to Charlotte to see their Dad for
an occasional visit.
The 1940 Census reveals some additional information about
Alonzo & Ida's family. Alonzo had died in 1937, but the
family continued to live in their home in Catawba County.
Frances was 13
years old at the time, Oscar was 19 and Sam was 21.
1940 Catawba County Census
Home
Value
Last Name
First Name
Relation
Sex
Age
Wd
Md
S
*
Sch
Birth
**
Hrs
Wkd
Occup.
Industry
Wks
Wkd
1939
Wages
for
1939
$500
Loftin
Ida S.
Head
F
55
Wd
7
NC
-----
Sam
Son
M
21
S
H1
NC
40
Knitter
Hosiery
Mill
26
$351
-----
Oscar
Son
M
19
S
H1
NC
60
Laborer
Saw Mill
28
$252
-----
Frances
Daughter
F
13
S
6
NC
*
Highest Grade of School Completed: H1 is 1st year of
High School
** The
Number of Hours Worked during the week of March 24 - 30,
1940
29 Jul 2010 Frances
shares memories of her
parents, Alonzo & Ida Setzer Loftin YouTube
Video
Frances
attended Balls Creek Elementary School.
While she was
still in high school, Frances worked at Elliott's Hosiery Mill
in Catawba. Most of her siblings figured she wouldn't go
back to school once she started working. She did return to
high school however after the summer break and became the first
of Alonzo & Ida's children to graduate from high school.
Glennie
Frances Loftin
Frances
remembers the first time she was old enough to vote in an
election. She drove her mother to the voting location.
Her brother Mike was there to show her what to do - as he
proceeded to vote her a Democratic ticket. Ida was furious that
he had not let Frances vote herself. Some of the Loftins were
Democrats, while others were Republican.
Frances with Louise Loftin
From the Statesville Record
Newspaper - August 6, 1949
Miss Frances Loftin,
bride-elect of this month, was delightfully entertained
Thursday evening when Mrs. (Mike) Eleanor Loftin was
hostess at a bridal party at her home in Catawba. Upon
arrival, the charming bride-elect was presented a
corsage of yellow rosebuds which she pinned at the
shoulder of her pretty waffle pique summer frock. The
house was effectively decorated with bouquets of
colorful summer flowers. Games were played during the
evening and prize winners were Lucy Ramsey and Miss
Jynell Gibson who in turn presented them to the
honoree. A delightful refreshment consisting of bridal
cakes, party sandwiches, punch and mints was served.
Those present with the honoree were Mrs. Lucy Ramsey and
Miss Narma Douglas, of Statesvilie, Miss Jynell Gibson,
Mrs. Clarence Harwell, Mrs. J. C. Medilin, Mrs Clyde
Goodman, Mrs Wade (Nannie Loftin) Martin, Mrs. Verdie
Lee Boggs, Mrs. Crawford Bost and Mrs. Bill (Floye
Loftin) Ellers of Harve de Grace.
Frances married Robert Alvin Cook on 13 Aug 1949, at Concordia
Lutheran Church in Conover, NC. Alvin’s
father, Butler Cook, had worked for Alonzo.
29 Jul 2010 Frances discusses how
she met Alvin and where they were married YouTube
Video
29 Jul 2010 Frances talks about her brother
Mike Loftin YouTube
Video
Frances was a beauty but never thought of
herself that way
(Left Frances
(Right) Alvin &
Frances Loftin Cook
Frances and
Alvin only had one child, Norma Lynn Cook.
(Right) Norma Lynn Cook
Alvin suffered
from rheumatoid arthritis and died on 02 Jul 1976 at the age of 50.
Frances worked
in the offices of J.C. Penney’s Distribution Offices in
Statesville, NC for 40 years, from March 1948 to July 1988.
Frances' home on Sherrills Ford Rd. in Catawba County, NC
A photo of Frances
with nephew Curtis Loftin from 19 Dec 2007
29 Jul 2010 Frances
recalls her Setzer Aunts &
Uncles, including:
Miles & Effie Lowrance Setzer
John & Leola Lowarance Setzer
Daisy Setzer Sigmon
and some of her favorite foods from the older women in her life
as a child YouTube
Video
Frances wrote this letter to God shortly
before her death. It was read at her funeral.
Frances' Letter to GOD
Frances and Norma at
the Loftin Reunion
Dear Lord,
Help me this Day with my pain. Sometimes I feel I can
not endure., but with your help I will try.
I know I'm not the only one that needs help. I look
down the Hall & hear people groan, Lord. Please help them this
day. Help me I pray.
This defect in me does not only hurt me but has put a
burden on my daughter and Grandkids.
Thank you Lord for hearing my pray. I love you.
Thank you for giving us Jesus Christ to save us from
our sins for I have many.
Love,
Frances
Thanks to Jeannie Stewart Clark for sharing a
copy of Frances's letter with me
Glennie Frances Loftin Cook passed away on Wednesday, 17 Sep
2015 at Sherrills Ford Hospice House in Sherrills Ford, Catawba
County, NC. She was 89 years old.
OBITUARY - Frances Loftin Cook
Frances Loftin Cook, age 89, of Catawba, NC, passed away on
Wednesday, 17 Sep 2015 at Sherrills Ford Hospice House.
Frances was born 13 July 1926 in Catawba County, NC, to the late
Alonzo Lester Loftin and
Ida Lillian Setzer Loftin. Frances was a member of
Center United Methodist Church in Catawba, a 1944 graduate
of Balls Creek School and was retire from JC Penney Distribution
Center. She enjoyed crocheting, scrapbooking, jewelry
making, cooking and singing.
In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her
husband Alvin Cook; grandson MichaelLafone; ten brothers, five
sisters and three infant siblings. Those left to cherish
her memory are: daughter NormaCook Steward of Catawba,
granddaughter JeannieClark and husband Keith,
great-grandchildren KeyleeClark, NoahClark and
MadisonClark.
A service to celebrate Frances' life was held on Sunday, 20 Sep
2015, at 4:00 p.m. at Center United Methodist Church in Catawba.
Rev. John Loveofficiated. Burial took place following the
ceremony in the church cemetery. Those serving as
pallbearers were
Curtis Loftin,
PaulLoftin, GaryPotter, Gary Mauney, Rick Yancey and Mike Rattermann.
OBITUARY - Norma Cook Stewart
Norma Lynn Cook Stewart,
age 66, passed away on Monday, 03 Oct 2016, as a result of an
automobile accident.
Norma was born 07 Jul 1950 in Catawba County, NC, to the late
Alvin
and
Frances Loftin Cook.
Norma was a longtime member of
Center United Methodist Church
in Catawba, NC. She loved being involved in every aspect of her
church, including the Quilting Circle, United Methodist Women,
church choir, and teaching Sunday School.
Norma was an awesome grandmother and retired from the
Catawba County School System after many years of service
to help care for her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son
Michael Lafone. Those left to cherish her memory are:
Daughter, JeannieStewartClark and husband
Keith of Catawba: Grandchildren, KayleeClark,
NoahClark and MadisonClark.
A service to celebrate Norma’s life was held on Thursday, 06 Oct
2016 at 5:00 p.m. at Center United Methodist Church in Catawba,
NC. Rev. John Love officiated. The family received
friends on Thursday, 06 Oct 2016, from 3:00 to 4:45 p.m. at
Center United Methodist Church. Norma’s Sunday School class
served as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Center
United Methodist Church, 4945 Sherrills Ford Road, Catawba, NC
28609.
(Below) Norma with son-in-law, Keith Clark, and
grandchildren Kaylee, Noah and Madison Clark,
at the Loftin Family Reunion in 2012
SOURCES
Thanks to Glennie Frances Loftin
Cook for all the
photos and information about the Loftin family.
A special thanks to "Aunt" Frances for getting me started in
this pictorial journey of the Loftins.
Thanks to Louise Loftin Potter and Loretta Huffman
Hiatt for the extra photos of Frances.
If you have additional photos or information about
Glennie
Frances Loftin, please contact me.