Tehachapi News

larger view

Frances Marion Wienka passed away in Bakersfield, after a short illness on March 11, 2008.

Frances Marion Wienka was born Nov. 20, 1915, in Johnson, Vt. to Hersa and Nickolas Wienka. She graduated from Hartford High School, Hartford, Vt. She immediately went to work as a secretary at Vermont Hardware Store. Frances married Earl Murray Lane, of West Lebanon, N.H., in 1935. In 1948 Frances and Earl moved to Brunswick, Maine, and then in 1951 to Pomona, Calif. where both worked for General Dynamics.

In 1955, Frances was a founding member and first chapter president of the Pomona chapter of the National Secretaries Association. In the evenings, Frances went to college and obtained her Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) rating. Frances held all the chapter offices and moved on to the state level and became president of the now Professional Secretaries International. Frances moved the international level and was coordinator for the international members, involving traveling which fit in with her love of travel.

Frances became executive secretary to the president of the Kaiser Fabrication Plant. Frances had been retired for three days when she was called to work at the Coca Cola Bottling Company as executive secretary to the vice-president, and when he promoted to president of Arrowhead Water Company, Frances went with him.

Earl Lane died in 1984. Shortly after that, Frances retired at the age of 69, and devoted her time to traveling, needlework, and satisfying her love of reading

Frances leaves behind two children, Dennis Lane, of Smithfield, Va., and Beverly Bemis, of Tehachapi. She also leaves four grandchildren, Amber and Michelle Lane of Smithfield, VA., Todd Perdue, of Seattle, Wash., Lori Perkins, of San Diego, and two great-grandchildren, Joshua Perkins, of San Diego and Dawn Perdue, of Arizona.