Frances Theo (Ireland) Stromberg

Frances Theo Stromberg (Ireland) died peacefully in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on September 5, 2019 at the age of 97. She is survived by her three sons and their wives: Stanley A. & Susan Stromberg of Perkins, Oklahoma, David E. & Jeanette Stromberg of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and James L. & Joline Stromberg of Ochelata, Oklahoma; her Grandchildren and their spouses: Shannon & Chris Holley, Allison Lincks, Walter & Stacie Stromberg, Lee & Tess Stromberg, Tamara & Robert McEntire, and Jimmy & Alicia Stromberg; and her Great grandchildren: Kylie Stromberg, Abby Lincks, Zachery Crosson, Beau Clipper, Connor Lincks, Jacob Crosson, Madison Lincks, Reece Clipper, Sophie Clipper, Grayson Stromberg, Finn Stromberg, Brooklynn Crosson, Rowan Stromberg, Reece Stromberg, Raegan Stromberg, and Luke McEntire. She is preceded in death by: her father, Henry Milton Ireland in Visalia, California in 1925; and her mother, Lela Marie Ireland (Carlisle) in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1993. Frances was born July 25, 1922 in Glendale, California to Henry Milton Ireland and Lela Marie Ireland (Carlisle). In 1929 Frances and her widowed mother came to Stillwater, Oklahoma where her mother was a first grade school teacher for 28 years. Frances graduated from Stillwater High School as Valedictorian and received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. Later, she was granted a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Florida State University. Frances’ achievement of her PhD was facilitated by her being awarded the Danforth Scholarship in 1959. At the time, this award was the most prestigious scholarship ever received by a University of Arizona faculty member. At age 19 her first professional experience was as the teacher in a one-room rural school in Andrew County, Missouri. Later she taught at Oklahoma A&M College in the Child Development Laboratory and as an Instructor in the Home Life Department. At the University of Arizona she was Director of the Child Development Laboratory School and faculty member of the School of Home Economics. In 1967 she returned to Oklahoma State University as Professor and her work included intercultural and international teaching of home economics in Latin American and Scandinavian countries. In 1975 Frances was promoted to Head of the Department of Family Relations and Child Development which she held until she retired in 1985. She was a member of Delta Zeta and numerous professional and honorary organizations. In addition to being committed to her professional specialty area of early childhood education and related areas of child development and family relations, she took pride in her skills in the needle arts and her greatest joys came to her from her family. A Celebration of Life is pending and will be announced by Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.

Frances Theo (Ireland) Stromberg

July 25, 1922 - September 5, 2019