Frances W. Gibbons
September 4, 1947 – March 6, 2019
It is with profound sadness we announce our beloved Frances has passed away peacefully with family surrounding her. She put up a long and courageous fight against bile duct cancer. She was also a 10-year survivor of breast cancer.
Frances was born September 4, 1947 in Washington D.C. to John and Marie Willoughby. She grew up in Arlington, VA, attended Radford University, and married her high school sweetheart from Bishop O’Connell High School, Richard Borlik, in 1967. Frances and Richard lived in New Paltz, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; New Concord, Ohio; and Huntsville, Alabama.
Frances was a true homemaker who enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening. Her kitchen was the center of family gatherings and she always made her family’s favorite recipes from scratch, including her most famous coconut cream pie.
Frances served as the financial secretary for Covenant Presbyterian for over 25 years, where she was also an active member, serving as a Stephen minister, choir member, and deacon. She also worked in real estate during her time in Raleigh and served as the first woman on New Concord’s city council. She had a passion for finance and her hobbies included investing, playing bridge, and traveling. She was also a member of the Garden Club and the P.E.O. Foundation.
Frances is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Schmidt (Perry) of Madison, AL, Christine Shores (Doug) of Huntsville, AL, and Lindsay Cook (Justin) of Marietta, GA; eight grandchildren, Ben and Maria Schmidt, Camryn, James, and Sarah Shores, John, Christopher, and Clara Cook; and two younger brothers, John Willoughby and James Willoughby of Arlington, VA.
She was predeceased by her husband of 23 years, Richard Borlik, in 1990; her second husband of nine years Jack Gibbons, in 2004; and her parents.
Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, with the memorial service following at 3.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (www.cholangiocarinoma.org) or Hospice Family Care.
