Frances Johnson Collins Strouse, of Charlotte and Boone, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2012. She was born in Atlanta, Ga., the daughter of the late Samuel M. Johnson and Helen Stipe Johnson.

Mrs. Strouse was a graduate of North Fulton High School in Atlanta, Ga. She was a graduate of Georgia State College for Women, for which she received a full scholarship. She also received a Master's Degree from Emory University. Following graduation, she worked at Emory University, where she was part of the first heart catheterization team in the United States. Mrs. Strouse was Director of the Cardio-Pulmonary Laboratory at Greenville General Hospital in Greenville, S.C.; Director of Marketing Research and Product Development for the Kendall Corp.; and sold real estate for many years in the greater Charlotte area, where she was a consistent million-dollar producer. She was a member of the American Chemical Society, the Charlotte Board of Realtors, and ZONTA International, where she held several leadership positions. In 1988, she was the Charlotte Woman of The Year. She was also a patron of the Matthews Library. Mrs. Strouse was a member of Matthews Presbyterian Church, the Bible Study Fellowship, and started the Courtney Lane Bible Study Group.

Mrs. Strouse was preceded in death by her husbands, Rufus Calhoun Collins Jr. and Tomlin L. Strouse, and son, Rufus Calhoun Collins III. She is survived by her daughter, Dana M. Collins of Danville, Calif., and Matthews; sons, Donald E. Collins of Charlotte, David M. Collins and wife, Olivia, of Livingston, Ala., and Douglas N. Collins and wife, Phyllis, of Greenwood, S.C.; grandchildren, Carolyn Thompson, Douglas Brent Collins, and Sidney Collins; and brother, Donald E. Johnson and wife, Jan, of Atlanta, Ga.

A funeral service was held 10 a.m. Saturday, August 11, 2012, in the chapel of Harry & Bryant Company, 500 Providence Rd., Charlotte, with the Rev. Bill Pederson officiating. Graveside services were held 3 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, S.C.

The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Harry & Bryant.

Those who wish, may make memorial contributions to University Advancement, ZONTA Scholarship Fund, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28223.

Condolences may be offered at http://www.HarryandBryantFuneralHome.com.