Frances Marian Chambers

Chambers, Frances Marian, 56, died at home on June 17, 2011. She was born August 25, 1954, in Wichita, Kansas, to the Reverend Francis H. Chambers and Helen Lucile Rounsavell. Following the death of her father in 1959, her mother remarried E. Lawrence Wulfmeyer. Marian grew up in the Wichita Public Schools, where she was involved in accelerated courses. She moved to Clearwater, KS in 1969, when her parents built a country home there. Marian graduated from Clearwater High School as a Salutatorian with the class of 1972. She was accepted by multiple Ivy League schools, but her life-long devotion to all things academic led her to Dartmouth College, where she became part of the first class of women to attend the institution in 209 years. Although a part of the Dartmouth class of 1976, she accelerated her studies, which included a term in Romania, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1975. Her distinctions included the prestigious Colby Prize in Government Studies, Phi Beta Kappa membership, and she became the very first female in history to receive a diploma from Dartmouth. After completion of her B.S. in international studies, she earned her masters degree at the London School of Economics in 1976, followed by a year of intensive French study at the Paris Conservatory. Her career on Capitol Hill began with work in the office of Kansas Representative Joe Skubitz (R-Kansas). In 1978, she was hired by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. She worked for three different chairmen over her tenure, traveling to 117 countries and overseeing 20 billion U.S. dollars. Her trip reports were published in the Congressional Record. In 1999, she retired from public service and married Wayne K. Hooper, a former high school beau. She moved back to Wichita where she was active in D.A.R., the Present Day Club, the Foreign Relations Organization of Wichita (linked to WSU), and where she was greatly responsible for establishing the first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in the state of Kansas. She also was President of the Associated Daughters of American Witches 1996-1998, and a Member of the Kansas State Historical Society. Marian was proud to be a member of the Century Club, a unique organization whose membership is limited to those who have visited 100 or more countries. Marian was predeceased in death by her parents, Francis H. and H. Lucile (Chambers) Wulfmeyer; her stepfather, E. Lawrence Wulfmeyer; her stepson, Clinton Hooper; and her husband, Wayne K. Hooper (3-18-11). She is survived by her sister, Roberta (Chambers) Doerges, of Casa Grande, AZ; her nieces, Autumn MacDermott (Brian), Peoria, AZ; Lauren Gaughan (David), Goose Creek Naval Weapons Station, SC; her nephew, Kyle D. Doerges, Casa Grande, AZ; one great-niece, and two great-nephews. A private inurnment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery on Monday afternoon, June 27, 2011. A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at Downing and Lahey East Mortuary, 6555 E. Central. Memorial donations may be made in Marians name to: Chamber Music at the Barn, 4041 N. Maize Rd, Ste 240, Maize, KS - 67101-0460, attention Bob Scott/F. Marian Chambers, Memorial Fund. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.dlwichita.com Memorial Service Tuesday, June 28, 2011 1:00 P.M. Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Private Inurnment Maple Grove Cemetery