A Celebration of Life for Frances Palmtag will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Immaculate Conception Church hall in Tres Pinos starting at 11:00am. Frances left her beloved Hollister on Friday September 22, 2017 at the age of 95 years. She was the oldest and last remaining of the three Palmtag girls – Hazel Palmtag Medaugh and Charlsie Palmtag Ross – born to Carl and Myrtle (O’Connor) Palmtag in Hollister.
Frances grew up helping on her father’s farm. Picking prunes and cutting apricots each summer were some of her fondest memories. During World War II, she worked at Hollister Navy Air Base, and told stories of attending USO dances in Hollister and at Fort Ord. After the war and with her degree in education from Sn Jose State, she began her long career as a teacher. Everywhere her family goes in Hollister, they meet adults who had Miss Palmtag as their teacher! Her impact upon children was far reaching including her students, vacation bible school children, and her niece, nephews and their children.
Frances loved to travel with friends and especially enjoyed trips to the South Pacific, Germany, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand along with family camping in Death Valley and Fremont’s Peak. Frances was one of Hollister’s biggest fans and supporters, and she devoted her retirement to enriching the town. Her personal involvement in organizations that promoted a stronger community and country included Retired Teachers Association, Hollister Sister City, Second “Indianhead” Infantry Division Auxiliary, Red Cross, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, Hazel Hawkins Auxiliary, Gem and Lapidary Club, San Benito County Hospice and the San Benito County Historical Society. As a representative of the Hollister Sister City organization, she traveled twice to Japan. Frances also received the Heart of Hazel award from the Hazel Hawkins Foundation. In 2015, Frances was honored at the Community Foundation’s National Philanthropy Day dinner for her work with the Historical Society.
Frances is survived by her nephew Ronald Ross and wife Mary Hubbell of Hollister; niece Nancy Ross Joynt and husband Jeffrey Joynt of Paso Robles; nephew Andrew Ross and wife Barbara Britten of Taos New Mexico; three great nieces and nephew, and a great-great nephew.
Donations in remembrance of Frances may be made to: San Benito County Historical Society at 498 Fifth Street, Hollister, CA 95023.
