We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and volunteer Frankie Wilson, who passed away on November 25, 2020, at the University of Iowa Medical Center in Iowa City.
Frances Edna Wilson was born August 4, 1955, in Keokuk, Iowa. Her parents were David Eugene Wilson and Anna Bell Hootman. The family lived in Brighton, Washington Co. and Farmington, Van Buren Co., where Frankie graduated from Harmony High School in 1973.
Frankie had an impressive 30+ year career with the Davenport Police Department. She was one of 3 women sworn in on July 27, 1977, and was part of the last class to go through Davenport Police Department’s in-house cadet training school.
She worked all 3 shifts throughout her career, starting as an officer, promoted to corporal in 1984, and sergeant in 1994. She was assigned to the first bike path patrol in 1978, was a crime scene technician, and Records Bureau supervisor. She was also president of the Iowa Association of Women Police.
Sgt. Wilson received a B.A. from St. Ambrose University in 1981 and an M.A. from Western Illinois University. She was a nationally certified defense tactics instructor, a CPR instructor, and gave talks to the community on self-defense, street awareness, and simple survival skills. After retiring from the DPD she taught classes as an adjunct professor at Purdue University Global.
Frankie was one of our dedicated volunteers from the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society. She used her incredible detective skills to help our patrons with their family history research questions. She was kind and generous, and a joy to be around. We will miss her terribly.
Courtesy of the Davenport Police Historic Association
(posted by Cristina)
