Frances Wrightson
Frances Wright Frances is also in the Kam High Staff List
Frances Mary Wrightson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 25, 2017.
Frances lived a remarkable life during her nearly 102 years. She was born in England during World War I as her father fought with the Canadian Army for Britain. The family returned to Canada where Frances grew up on a rural homestead near Kamloops, British Columbia, where her father had been given rural acreage due to his service in the army.
Frances only began formal schooling at the age of nine when the family moved into Kamloops. After graduating from high school in three years, she attended the University of British Columbia on scholarship, receiving a first-class honors Bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics and a M.A. in chemistry.
In 1941 Frances became the fourth woman to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University. It was at Stanford where Frances met and married a fellow chemistry graduate student, John M. Wrightson. The young couple moved to New York for John to obtain his doctorate at Cornell University while Frances taught at Wells College.
During World War II, she became first woman to complete the Harvard Radar Program and installed and calibrated radar on B17 bombers. After the war, they both joined the M.W. Kellogg Company to conduct chemical research and development.
Frances and John returned to California as John began a career in the aerospace industry, first in Southern California where Frances' three children were born, and then in Carmichael when John began work at Aerojet. Frances raised her three children and began her teaching career in the Physics Department at Sacramento State University. She did not retire until she was 80 years old.
In retirement, Frances was a very active volunteer who assumed leadership roles in community planning committees and hospice organizations. She was also active in St. Francis Episcopal Church in Fair Oaks, where she applied her gardening passion and expertise in designing and maintaining the church landscaping. Frances also enjoyed her home garden, sports, her beloved dogs, and visiting family and friends in Canada and England. She is survived by her children, Mary Wrightson, Maud Hinchee, and Jack Wrightson, and three grandchildren, Kathryn Hinchee-Rodriguez, Cole Wrightson, and Kendall Wrightson.
