Frances W. Gehm

Frances Winifred (White) Gehm, 90, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away on November 15, 2023. Born in New York City in 1933 and raised in York, Pennsylvania, Fran was a beloved sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend. She was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas White, her parents, Franklin and Avis (Robinson) White, and her sister, Joan (White) Mange. Fran enjoyed many hobbies over the course of her lifetime, including gardening, tennis, hiking, knitting, lawn bowling, dancing, and flower arranging. Her ikebana creations brightened numerous family celebrations. A lifelong learner and avid reader, Fran enjoyed providing thoughtful book recommendations to friends and family. She enjoyed bridge, afternoon tea, and the warm Arizona sunshine. Fran had a varied career as a homemaker, book store clerk, census taker, and Pennsylvania Department of Welfare case worker. In addition to her parents and siblings, Fran was predeceased by her beloved husband of 54 years, Miles Gehm. After meeting at Penn State, where Fran earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, they married on June 23, 1956. They lived in the Panama Canal Zone during the early part of their marriage, where their first child, Miles, Jr., was born. After returning to the United States, they raised their children in York. In 2005, they retired to Sun City. Fran and Miles loved to travel and over the years they visited Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Hawaii, Canada, Alaska, and Mexico. Always generous, they hosted two wonderful family reunions for their children and grandchildren on the occasions of their 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries in the Dominican Republic. Unfailingly devoted to her family, Fran never forgot birthdays or anniversaries, always sending thoughtful greetings and gifts. After Miles’ death in 2011, Fran moved to the Royal Oaks Life Plan Community, where she made many dear friends and participated enthusiastically in clubs, lectures, outings, and activities. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and delighted in monthly get-togethers with her sorority sisters. Fran found solace and community in her worship at the First Presbyterian Church of York and later at the First Presbyterian Church of Sun City. Fran is survived by her beloved children, Miles Gehm, Jr. (Lynn Forester), of San Jose, CA; Winnie Hulme, of Avondale Estates, GA; and Jennifer Posner, of Westport, CT. She was a cherished grandmother to Matthew Gehm (Los Angeles, CA), Emma Hulme (Boulder, CO), Sam Posner (Seattle, WA), and Eliza Posner (Anchorage, AK). She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lott White, of Grenada Hills, CA. Fran’s family is grateful for the attentive, loving care she received from her companions at the Royal Oaks memory care center, where she moved in December 2021. Over the last year of her life, Fran and her family received outstanding care and support from Hospice of the Valley. Please consider donating to Hospice of the Valley (https://www.hov.org/donate) in Fran’s memory, or to the charity of your choice. A celebration of Fran’s life will be held at the chapel at Royal Oaks, 10015 W Royal Oak Rd, Sun City, AZ at 4 PM on Saturday, December 2, 2023. All are welcome.