Frank Allen Wortman

Frank Allen Wortman, the youngest of four children of William P. and Gertrude (Allen) Wortman, was born in Malvern, Iowa October 8, 1906. Years later, Allen discovered an item in his father's day book that he had paid Dr. Samuel Campbell, early-day Malvern physician, $5 for "professional services" involved in the delivery. Allen spent his entire life in the Malvern community, although his parents "homesteaded" in Montana in 1910, going through Yellowstone National Park on their way to the new acreage. The family spent the required eighteen months on the homestead, having good neighbors as two other families of Malvern took adjoining land for homesteads at the same time.
On their return, Allen attended the Malvern public schools, graduating with the Class of 1923. That summer he attended a trade school in Chicago for a month, and then worked for a year at The Malvern Leader office, owned by his father, before attending Nebraska Wesleyan college two years, and then transferring to the University of Iowa where he acquired an AB degree in Journalism in 1928. Allen went to work at The Leader office the day of his graduation. In 1936 he took over as publisher after the death of his parents and older sister, Helen, in an auto accident. He continued his work there until 1973 when he sold the newspaper and retired.
In 1939, he was married to Jean McCullough of Wapello, Iowa. They had two children, William A., born in 1940, and Carol S. in 1947. Jean was stricken by leukemia in 1954, dying early in January 1955. By rare good fortune, Allen married Zelma Fletcher in 1957, a match thoroughly approved by Bill and Carol, after eating their dad's cooking for a year.
After his retirement, he and Zelma did some traveling, both agreeing getting back home to friends and family was always the best part. After Zelma's death, Allen continued to live in the old family home alone, much dependent upon the kindness of neighbors and friends. He found, and frequently expressed the importance of good neighbors as well as his family, to his well being. He also indulged an interest in local history and authored one book, Ghost Towns of Mills County, Iowa, and published a small book of columns that he had written for The Malvern Leader, Traveling Extensively in Southwest Iowa.
Allen served 28 years on the Malvern School Board and even longer on the Malvern Cemetery Board. He was a long-time member of the Methodist Church and Choir in Malvern. He especially enjoyed a fairly wide acquaintance with friends around Mills County as well as those in his own community, and was deeply appreciative of his good neighbors and friends in his home community.
Allen died on May 3, 2004, at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 97 years, 6 months, and 25 days. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Helen, wife Jean in 1955 and wife Zelma in 1992, sister Jessie Wearin and brother W.P. (Perry) II, step daughter Lorraine Colwell, and step son-in-law C.R. Alexander. He is survived by his son, Bill and wife Sue of Oxford, Ohio, and daughter, Carol Treese of Springfield, Missouri, and their families; step daughter, Jane Alexander of Corvallis, Oregon; step son-in-law, Fred Colwell of Lansing, Michigan; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.