Obituary of Frances Cummins Megson

Frances Blackiston (Cummins) Megson, known as “Blax” to her family and friends, passed away Monday, February 12, 2018 at the age of 92.  She was the widow of the late Harry K. Megson to whom she was married for 59 years.  Frances was born March 7, 1925 to Dr. and Mrs. C.R. Cummins of Dover, Delaware.  She attended public schools in Dover through 10^th grade and then completed high school at Linden Hall in Lititz, PA, establishing friendships that she retained throughout her life. Following a year at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, Frances enrolled at the University of Delaware in 1943.  She completed her coursework three years later, in 1946, becoming the first woman to obtain a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University.  Upon graduation, Frances moved to Connecticut to work in the research department of United Aircraft, later known as Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. She and Harry met in South Glastonbury and married in June, 1949 after his graduation from UConn. Together they raised five children, first in South Glastonbury and then in Hebron. She was a devoted wife and mother, as well as an accomplished gardener, seamstress, baker, fixer-of-anything-electrical, wordsmith, woodworker, and sly practical joker.  She is remembered for her love of flowers and chocolate, her competitive spirit, her thoughtfulness and most of all, her love of being with family. Frances was active in several organizations in Hebron but her one love was the Douglas Library.  She was a member of the Douglas Library Board of Trustees and served as it’s president.  She was head of the committee responsible for the 1999 addition to the library and was named Citizen of the Year in 2000 by the Board of Trustees, for her work in seeing the project through to completion. Frances was instrumental in assisting Seldon Wells with the first Hebron Maple Fest, and often served “Sugar on Snow” in Seldon’s Sugar House.  More than once she drove north, as far as necessary, to procure snow for the Maple Fest when the weather in Connecticut did not cooperate. Frances was predeceased by her beloved husband, Harry.  She is survived by their five children and their spouses, Thomas and Patricia Megson of Stamford, Sarah Megson of Manchester, Ann and Marc Baribault of Hebron, Richard and Jane Megson of South Glastonbury, and James and Tracey Megson of Lebanon. She is also survived by her sixteen grandchildren, Sarah, Callie, Tommy, Katie, Marc, Will, Lizzie, Greg, Julia, Annie, Peter, Maureen, Nate, Jesse, Marina and Helen and her five great-grandchildren, Jack, Stella, Theo, Wyatt and Freddie. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7PM on Friday, February 23 at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 735 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury and a memorial service will be held in her honor at 2PM on Saturday, February 24 at The Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, 949 South Main Street. A private burial has been planned. For online condolences please visit www.mulryafh.com.