Frankie Ditto turns 100 at Dominion of Hixson
Frances Louise Grace Ditto, known to everyone as Frankie, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on January 25, 1924. Frankie’s father worked for the railroad system, taking their family from Pennsylvania to West Virginia and eventually to Louisville, Kentucky. Frankie fondly remembers visiting with family at the Grace family farm in Ohio Pyle and Gobblers Knobb, Pennsylvania. Even though she was an only child, both of her parents came from large families, and Frankie loved being surrounded by dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Frankie developed a love of music and singing from her mother.
Frankie developed a love of music and singing from her own mother’s love of music, so when the family moved to Louisville when she was a teenager, her exposure to music grew. Frankie began singing solos on WHAS radio station and entertained with the USO at Fort Knox. She became a member of the Louisville Opera, singing in its productions as well as the Amphitheater’s summer operas.
Frankie attended the University of Louisville, joining the Chi Omega Sorority and Sigma Alpha Iota, the National Music Sorority. She received degrees in Music and Public School Music. While at school, Frankie met the love of her life, Bob Ditto. They married in 1948 and were married for 65 years before Bob passed away.
Bob and Frankie moved to Chattanooga in 1955. She continued to sing solos for First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Chattanooga Opera Guild, serving on the board of directors several times. The Dittos later joined First Presbyterian Church on McCallie Avenue where she sang under the leadership of Glenn Drapier.
Frankie loved to travel and the Dittos took many trips to Europe, Israel, Egypt, Alaska, Hawaii and throughout the mainland US. Avid sailboat sailors, the Dittos and a group of close friends chartered their own sailboats to the British Virgin Islands and to Tahiti several times.
Frankie worked for Bob Ditto Inc. for over 30 years.
Some of Frankie’s happiest memories include the birth of her two children, Cathy and Carl, and the birth of her granddaughter, Becky. She loved and took pride in entertaining and cooking, and she loved to share her recipes. She had a flower garden and won several blue ribbons on her floral arrangements. Frankie learned to sew as a young girl and was a very talented seamstress. In 1966, Bob established his own business, Bob Ditto, Inc. which dealt in industrial and commercial sharpening service and mill supply sales. Frankie worked for Bob Ditto Inc. for over 30 years, helping it grow into a well-known and thriving family business. Frankie was always involved in neighborhood and community activities and worked for years as an election supervisor.
Now almost 101 years old, Frankie has been living at Dominion Senior Living of Hixson since February 2021 where she remains close to family.
