The Garden Island
Notice #: 0001058771-01
Funeral Notices

FRANCES ANDREWS DILLINGHAM Frances Andrews Dillingham was born in Dallas, Texas on December 22nd, 1915, the eldest of two children of Vice Admiral Adolphus and Berenice Platter Andrews. Her father’s career in the United States Navy meant a peripatetic childhood living, among other places, in New London, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and Honolulu. Mrs. Dillingham attended boarding school at Ethel Walker’s, Bryn Mawr College and UCLA. In 1939, not long before the onset of World War II, when her father was stationed at Pearl Harbor, she met and married Benjamin Franklin Dillingham II, a descendent of missionaries and member of a prominent Honolulu family. In the late 1960’s Frances moved from Honolulu first to Sydney, Australia, then to Pebble Beach, spending the last two decades of her life in San Francisco Frances’ life revolved around three consuming interests. The first was bridge, and she played just about anywhere and any time a game was at hand. The second was travel, going by plane, train or ocean liner through Africa, Asia, the Americas, and most particularly France and Australia. Her third, and most embracing passion was for family and friends. An affinity for the underdog and a love for all living creatures led her to help many people, and saved the life of many a mouse and spider. She was, above all things, a loyal friend. Despite her modesty and shyness, Frances blossomed into a warm, generous and elegant spirit. Frances Dillingham died peacefully at home on December 18th 2017, four days shy of her 102nd birthday, predeceased by her former husband and, in 2017, by her brother Adolphus Andrews Jr., and her son Benjamin Dillingham III. She is survived by her daughters Frances Elizabeth (Ceseli) Dillingham Foster of Portola Valley, California, and Berenice Louise (Lorie) Dillingham Rosenwald of Southborough, Massachusetts, and her son, Henry Gaylord Dillingham II of Springfield Center, New York. Additionally, there are ten beloved grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and five step-great grandchildren. There is a memorial service planned at St. Luke’s Church in San Francisco on January 18 at 3:00 PM, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her memory to The Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 NY 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326, The Bay View Mission, 1547 Jerrold Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124, or a charity of the donor’s choice.