Hampton Resident Reflects on 75 Years with Pen Pal

Seventy five years ago, Frances Huling answered a notice in a Sunday school newsletter that would lead to a decades-long friendship. 

The ad was placed by Lois Grosse, who was 12 years old at the time and living in Australia. She hoped to find a pen pal who lived in the United States.

Fran, who was also 12 years old at the time, was one of many to respond to her ad. 

“I didn’t know if she would write back, but she did,” said Fran, who was living between Garner and Ventura, Iowa, at the time. 

At first, they wrote to each other about school and their day-to-day lives, said Fran. While they’ve continued to stay in touch over the years, their methods of doing so have changed — sea mail, air mail, phone calls, texts, email and video calls. 

After 33 years of staying in touch, they finally met in person in the late ‘80s. 

Fran, who worked as a nurse, said she and her husband, Gary, went to visit Lois and her husband in Australia in 1983. They went for their 25th wedding anniversary. And while they were excited, she was a little bit nervous. 

“I wasn’t sure how we were going to get along in person,” she said. “But we had no problems. We were like family.” 

The two ladies (and their husbands) hit it off, with Fran and her husband staying in a small guest house on the Grosse’s property.  

The four explored the area together and made memories that would last a lifetime, and their adventures didn’t stop there. They would go on to visit each other seven more times. Sometimes they visited in Australia and other times they met in the United States. 

In 1988, they met in Iowa. In 1990, they met in St. Louis. In 1993, they went to Alberta, Canada. In 1995, they went to Kansas City. In 1998, they went to New Zealand. In 2003, they went to Sydney, Australia. And in 2011, they met one last time, in Brisbane, Australia. 

Fran, who is a month younger than Lois, said their last visit was a bittersweet one.

“We knew we wouldn’t see each other again,” she said. “We decided not to be sad because it was over, but to smile because it had happened.”’

When asked what the friendship meant to her, Fran said she considers Lois a sister and she appreciates all of the memories they have made together over the years. These days, Fran and Lois video call each other at least once a month to stay in touch and they enjoy talking about the good times they’ve had together. 

“It has been a very special friendship,” Fran said. “I feel blessed that we’ve had this beautiful friendship.” 

Fran’s husband, Gary, passed away seven years ago, and she currently lives in the assisted living home at Franklin General Hospital. She still visits regularly with her son, Steven, who lives in the area. She also has another son and a daughter, along with five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.