Frances Mertz Uhler, 93, formerly of Forks Township, passed away early Friday morning, January 27, 2017, at St. Luke's Hospice House in Bethlehem. She was the beloved wife of Dr. A. Frederick Uhler, O.D., who passed away in 2014. Born in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Marion Mertz, and was a 1941 graduate of Easton High School.

Fran and her late husband were married for 71 years at the time of his passing. They lived in Miami Beach, FL and Warner Robins, GA at the U.S. Army Air Force posts, and later in Easton before settling in Washington, NJ, where Fran worked in her husband's optometric office and was active in the PTA and American Field Service. She was a founding member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Washington, NJ, and more recently attended Forks United Church of Christ in Stockertown. Upon retirement, she and her husband moved to Aspen Colorado, where she volunteered regularly for the Aspen Thrift Shop and was a member of the Aspen Historical Society and the Pitkin County Senior Citizens. An avid philatelist, she was known as "the stamp lady" to the 5th grade children of Aspen Elementary School, where she taught U.S. history through stamps. She enjoyed bicycling, snow skiing and swimming, and was a lifelong football fan.

Fran is survived by three children, Linda O'Brien of Blacksburg, VA, Allen Uhler and his wife Debra MacKinnon of Spring Lake, NJ, and Holly Griffith and her husband Mark of Newport, TN. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Erin O'Brien and her husband Justin Mary, Margaret O'Brien, Ryan Griffith and his wife Bethany, Adam Griffith, James Uhler, and Scarlett Uhler; and a great-granddaughter, Solana Mary O'Brien. In addition to her mother and husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Joncie.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family, and interment will take place in Forks Cemetery, Stockertown. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Schmidt Funeral Home, Nazareth.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Fran's memory be offered to Forks UCC, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown, PA, 18083, Safe Harbor Easton, 536 Bushkill Drive, Easton, PA, 18042, ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry Street, Easton, PA, 18042, or to a charity of one's choice.