Fran Struewing met Mike DeWine in first grade in Yellow Springs. A seventh grade bowling date eventually led to marriage while both were students at Miami University in Oxford. 

They are the parents of eight children, grandparents of 28, and great-grandparents to one. 

First Lady DeWine has always been a determined advocate for children. 

She loves cooking with her own children and grandchildren, and she’s brought that love to the First Lady’s Office. Whether it’s picking vegetables with schoolkids in the Governor’s Residence Gardens or demonstrating how to grind wheat and make pizzas at the Ohio State Fair, she’s passionate about educating children about the food they eat. She also knows how important it is to make sure kids have access to nutritious meals.  

In addition, First Lady DeWine is a fierce supporter of early childhood literacy. She saw the joy in her grandchildren’s eyes when they received a book in the mail each month from their county Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. So, she made it her mission as First Lady to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio statewide. Now, every child under the age of 5 – in each of Ohio’s 88 counties – is eligible to receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month. 

First Lady DeWine is also a champion of programs that support parents, improve the health of babies and families, and feed Ohioans, like Ohio foodbanks.  

First Lady DeWine believes in children, families, and a bright future for Ohio.