Florence Wilkinson Pettit Lane

Florence Wilkinson Pettit Lane, 84, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, January 6, 2008 at her home.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at Calaroga Terrace Retirement Living, 1400 NE 2nd Ave, Portland, Oregon. Southern Oregon Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Florence requested donations and remembrances be made to the Oregon Food Bank, PO Box 55370, Portland OR 97211.

She was born to George and Inez Wilkinson on April 4, 1923 in Merced, California, the youngest of three children. Her family moved to Seattle and then to Grants Pass where she attended school and they owned and mined the Granite Hill. When World War II started, the family moved to Portland, Oregon and she was one of the first women to graduate from welding class. Her story was published in volume 2 of a book by the Rosie the Riveter organization. She was proud to have worked on several large ships out of Swan Island in Portland. About 1950 she married Robert Pettit. They divorced in 1953. She raised two children, William “Bill” Pettit of Grants Pass and Mary Pettit (Douglas) Holmes of Hillsboro, Oregon.

Florence worked many years in Portland for Power Plant Heating and was a member of the Desk and Derrick Club. In 1969 she went to work for the Post Office and retired as a window clerk from the Portland University Station. She was a member of the Retired Postal Workers.In 1972 she married George Lane. They divorced in 1975.

She was active in church. She taught Sunday school for many years at Highland United Chaurch of Christ and marched for civil rights in the 1960’s and early 70’s. She participated in many committees and studies at Vernon Presbyterian in NE Portland. After moving to Grants Pass three years ago, she attended Bethany Presbyterian.

Florence loved to travel. She went to the Great Wall of China, Australia, New Zealand, South America, saw the Egyptian pyramids, went through the Panama Canal and rode an elephant in Thailand. She flew, cruised, rode in buses and trains to see the world until her health grounded her. She live an active life for 20 years at Calaroga Terrace Retirement Community.

Survivors include her children, and four grandchildren, Jay (Leslie) Pettit, Mark Pettit, Nathan Holmes and Avery Holmes. She leaves behind many friends in many places. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Charles, sister Mary Rose, Robert Pettit and George Lane.

Special love and thanks to Margaret Beach for her devoted care. Thanks also to Cindy of Lovejoy Hospice.