"Fran" Frances R. Wheat

Frances Ruth Wheat ( maiden name Walters) was born August 22, 1937 in San Diego, CA. Her parents were Maurice Walters and Norma Williams. Her early education was in Milford and Delta, Utah. After graduating high school in 1955, Fran studied piano and organ with Harry Payne and also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. In 1981, she earned a Masters in Science degree in Education with an endorsement in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Fran married George Wheat on June 23, 1962 at Centenary Methodist Church in Salt Lake City. They made their first home in Sidney, Nebraska, while George attended seminary in Denver. Once George was ordained as a Methodist minister, they lived in several towns in Nebraska: Bertrand, Scottsbluff, Chappell and then moved to Grand Island, where they have resided since 1979.

Fran’s passion in life was music. She was a gifted organist and pianist, playing for services many years at Trinity United Methodist Church as well as St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Grand Island. She also taught piano to many students over the years. She enjoyed serving on the board for the Grand Island Concert Association to help bring quality live music to her community. Always determined to keep growing her skills, she continued her study of organ playing under Quentin Faulkner at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She also had a love of travelling and flying. Inspired by her father’s occupation as an FAA operator, she took flying lessons, learning to pilot small single-engine planes for several years in Chappell and loved flying solo over the fields of the Nebraska panhandle. Her love of travelling took her not only to almost all the states in America, but to Europe and the United Kingdom. Her Welsh heritage was a point of pride for Fran and it was while visiting England that she developed many friendships and connections in Wales, including the members of the world renowned Welsh chorus, the Treorchy Male Choir. In fact, the Choir bestowed upon her the special distinction of being named an Honorary Lady Member!

Experiences and other accomplishments that were dear to her included taking hot air balloon excursions, completing a 100 mile swim through the YMCA and organizing a Midwest United States tour of the Treorchy Male Choir.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. George D. Wheat, who just celebrated his 101st birthday. She is also survived by daughter Dawn Wheat, grandson Josh Arnett and his wife Rachel, and their sons ( great grandsons), Cayden and Logan Arnett, daughter Cris Rook, son-in-law Robert D Rook and their child ( grand-daughter) Megan Rook. She is survived as well by one brother, William Walters of Layton, UT and by cousins, nieces and nephews whom she kept in touch with throughout the years.

Fran passed away the morning of Monday August 24, 2026 at The Heritage at Sagewood in Grand Island. Services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island on Friday, Sept 4th at 1:00 pm. Her ashes will be placed in the columbarium at Trinity. Memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church and the Rowe Sanctuary.