Frances L Durnell

Frances Lucille (Knouff) Durnell, age 91 of Piqua, and formerly of Houston, Ohio, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2019. She was born April 24, 1928, in Piqua, Ohio, to the late Lester and Florence (Miller) Knouff. She married the late Charles “Red” Durnell on May 17, 1948.

Survivors include; her son Robert and his wife Marcia (Layman) of The Villages, Florida; two daughters, Janice and her husband Barry Wolfe and Bertha and her husband Sam Swob, all of Houston. Seven grandchildren and their spouses, Shawn Durnell and his wife Christine (McCord) of Casselberry, Florida; Tina (Durnell) and her husband Roman Smith of Tipp City, Ohio; Angela (Wolfe) and her husband Phil Cozad of Houston; Deanna (Wolfe) and her husband Gordon Walker of Houston; Rodney Swob and his wife Angela (Pulfer) of Anna, Ohio; and Douglas Swob of Sidney, Ohio. Also surviving are 13 great grandchildren; Peyton, Caiden & Kenna Smith, Michael (Elizabeth) Cozad, Stephanie (Marshall) Leichty, Emily & Cierra Cozad, Jaime (Rob) Neff, Jill Jolly, & Bryan Walker, Aubrey, Kelcey & Dawson Swob.  Five great-great grandchildren; Emmaline Cozad, Makenzie & Carter Neff, and Nikoli & Ellara Jolly. Two brothers, Charles Knouff of Houston and Johnny Knouff of Celina. A sister-in-law Norma Jean (Short) Durnell of Sidney also survives.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Charles Durnell, in 2008; a sister Ruth (Knouff) Schultz in 1995; a brother Arthur Knouff in 2004; a grandson, Kevin Wolfe in 1996; and a great-great grandson in 2019.

She was a graduate of Piqua High School in 1947. Frances was a long-time resident of Houston, as a homemaker and raising her three children. She also worked at the Stolle Corporation, G&W Tooling, Winans and Empire Restaurant. Frances volunteered for several local organizations including Houston Rescue (EMT), Houston Community Association (Life-Time Member), Houston Girl Scouts (Leader), Houston Congregational Christian Church (Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher & member of the Ladies Aide). Frances was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sidney.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 10:00 am. at Adams Funeral Home 1401 Fair Road, Sidney with Pastor Diana Circelli officiating.  Interment will be held at Houston Cemetery, Houston. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 18, 2019.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Houston Community Association Scholarship Fund or First Presbyterian Church in Sidney.  Arrangements for the Durnell family are in the care of Adams Funeral Home.  Condolences may be expressed online at theadamsfuneralhome.com.

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