Frances Gunn Kemper

Frances Gunn Kemper, 79, of Lynchburg, died February 2, 2018, at Lynchburg General Hospital. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Albert Strayer Kemper, III.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by their three sons: Albert Strayer Kemper, IV and his wife, Anna Amacher Kemper, of Columbia, S.C., along with their three children, Grayson Strayer Kemper of Washington, DC, Anna (Annie) Langhorne Kemper of Austin, TX and Martin Graham Kemper of Columbia; Carter Gunn Kemper and his wife, Aimee Guthrie Kemper, of Cincinnati, OH and along with their four children, Catherine Langhorne Kemper, Carter Gunn Kemper, Jr., Helen McKay Kemper and William Talbott Kemper, all of Cincinnati; and, Hamilton Haas Kemper, and his wife, Alison Shiprek Kemper, of Louisville, KY, along with their two children, Ellie Frances Kemper and Mary Hamilton Kemper, both of Louisville. Also, she is survived by her sister, Emily Gunn Craddock and her husband, John W. Craddock, of Lynchburg, and their three children, Anne Carter Craddock of Charlotte, N.C., John W. Craddock, Jr., and Claiborne W. Craddock II, both of Lynchburg.

Frances adored her children and grandchildren, and was very fond of her brother-in-law, Talfourd H. Kemper, of Roanoke, and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Kemper Wharton, of Earlysville, and their families. Also, she had a great and deep affinity for the “Salem Girls”, a group of her closest college classmates, and for her many first cousins.

Frances was born in Lynchburg on May 29, 1938, the daughter of the late Emily Kemp Gunn and Marco Carter Gunn of Lynchburg. She was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School and she attended Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C., foregoing her senior year for marriage.

Frances loved the great outdoors and was happiest walking her dogs in the woods, gardening and spending time at the beach. She became heavily involved with the Keep Lynchburg Beautiful Commission and the Tree Stewards. Also, she served as president of the Junior League of Lynchburg and of the Lynchburg Garden Club, and as one of four relicts of the Southern Memorial Association (Old City Cemetery).

Frances was a communicant of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, where she served on the Vestry, as a Lay Reader, as a Chalice Bearer, as a Garden Angel, as President of the Episcopal Church Women, and on the Altar and Flower Guilds.

The family will receive friends in the Commons at Westminster-Canterbury, 501 V.E.S. Road, Lynchburg, Va. On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be a private inurnment service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration be given to making a memorial gift to the Lynchburg Humane Society, 1211 Old Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 200 Boston Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24503, a charity of your choice, or by showing a kindness to someone in Frances’ memory.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.