Lina Jane “Jena” Coffing Warbuton, 88, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on Sunday, July 9, 2006 in Solana Beach.
She was born in Coffing Station, Calif., on Oct. 3, 1917.
Described by her late husband, Dr. Thomas Stanley Warburton, as “the First Lady of My Life for her many good deeds well beyond the call of duty,” blessed her entire family with her love, dignity and compassion.
While the vines ripened with grapes, her family — including her late sister Irma Courtney — searched for her special name.
Lina Jane (Jena) graduated from Los Angeles High School and continued her education at Pomona College. While attending college, she met and married her life-long love, T. Stanley Warburton, and they married on July 10, 1937.
The adventurous duo spent time in New Haven, Conn., while he completed his doctoral studies at Yale. New England provided for many historical and educational adventures.
They returned to the San Francisco Bay area in 1938 so that Dr. Warburton could resume his work as an educational administrator and she could establish a warm and loving home. During World War II, Mrs. Warburton kept the home fires bright while he pursued his military obligations.
The births of Nancy Lee and Roger Stanley ensured that she would skillfully juggle babies, rationing and the demands of a single mom until his return.
Their move to Fullerton allowed Mrs. Warburton to become fully engaged in all aspects of community life. With the birth of Jane Lucia, the family bustled and Mrs. Warburton remained fully engaged in her church and community groups, including the local PTA, International Rotary, and Girl and Boy Scout activities. She ensured that the administrators and faculty benefited from her creatively prepared receptions and dinners.
The lives of her children and later, her six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, were central to her life. She loved sharing lazy summer days with her “crew” while they hiked and participated in all the Idyllwild seasonal activities. Flowers, plants and the soaring trees and majestic mountains of Idyllwild always provided a serene retreat.
Her life enriched the lives of others as she valued her friends as intrinsic members of her expanded family. Her rich legacy includes the many little stories she valued and shared with others. Everyone treasures their favorite Jena “tale.”
Gracious throughout her life, Mrs. Warburton left a rich legacy of humor, courage and love for all who shared time with her. Her greatest joy often came from cutting out an article about an interest of yours. She reached out and showed she cared.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 31 at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road in Whittier at Gate 17, Twilight Terrace.
