Fran DeWine is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is honored to have the role of First Lady of Ohio to her list of titles.

Mike DeWine and Frances Struewing met for the first time in first grade, outside of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Their first date happened in the sixth grade, and Fran recalls hiding in the basement of her childhood home when her sweetheart knocked on the door with Whitman’s chocolates and a silver cross necklace.  They began married life together in June of 1967 while they were both students at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. When Mike ran for his first public office in 1979, the couple already had three children. Today, Governor and First Lady DeWine are the proud parents of eight children and grandparents to 26 grandchildren.

As First Lady, Fran uses her platform to advocate for the health and well-being of children in Ohio by partnering with initiatives and organizations that share her passion. She is dedicated to promoting early childhood literacy and ensuring that new mothers and families have adequate support systems. Further, the First Lady seeks to share her love of cooking with Ohio’s young people. Her public life has focused on making sure children have access to nutritious meals. This mission extends to educating children about where their food comes from and giving them the knowledge and resources to make informed choices about nutrition as they grow up.  

The First Family enjoys celebrating family birthdays and special occasions at their home, the Ohio Governor’s Residence in Bexley, Ohio. Fran feels honored to be a part of history by living in this home that has been shared by past Governors since 1957 as she dedicates her time and energy to supporting children and families across the great state of Ohio.

While the First Family misses Teddy, their First Dog, they are enjoying time spent with Dolly, their springer spaniel, at the Ohio Governor's Residence.