 Toronto 2000 |
Director 2004 - 2007
Blanche L.Randles Amherst, MA QCWA # 12816 Chapter 112 and 120 |
Blanche Lois Bean Randles, passed away on Oct. 14 at the Extended Care at Amherst with her daughter at her side. Born in Michigan in 1917, her parents were Arlo and Mildred Bean. She grew up in Fla. where she met and married Wesley C. Randles in 1940.
They had a very active life, moving and traveling often, both for work and pleasure. They were both amateur (ham) radio operators, Blanche having received her license in 1954 as W4GXZ, Wesley as W4COW. She helped start radio chapters in both Fla. and New England and was an officer and founding member in many of them. She was also a member and officer of the Order of Eastern Star in Framingham MA. and was Mother Advisor to the Rainbow Girls in Framingham for many years.
She is predeceased by her husband Wesley of 63 years and her brother Arlo (Bud) Bean Jr. She is survived by her daughter Diane Kjeldsen and son-in-law Erik, a brother Harry P. Bean Sr. of New Port Richey Fla., and by numerous nieces and nephews and a lifetime of friends all over the country. She had a very good and full life. There will be a private celebration of that life at a later date.
I was first licensed in 1954 as W4GXZ, a General Class license. I belong to QCWA, YLRL, WRONE, Yankee Chapter #112, Pioneer Chapter #183 , Twin State Chapter #146, Nutmeg Chapter #149, Pine Tree Chapter #134, Gator Chapter #32, Pelican Chapter #128 and Florida YL's
My husband Wesley (W4COW) and I moved to Framingham, Mass. in 1958. We soon had the tower and beam up and were on the air again. We enjoyed the radio clubs and each year traveled to the YLRL and QCWA conventions. Wes was active in QCWA and I joined as soon as I became eligible in 1979.
At that time there was no QCWA chapter in New England. Several of us got together and organized Yankee Chapter and four other chapters soon followed. We also helped in the organization of these chapters. I soon noticed QCWA had no taping program to bring the news in the Journal to our sight impaired members.
In 1987 the president took my thoughts to the board and they agreed we needed a taping program. I was appointed Taping Coordinator, a job I still hold.
Ham radio and QCWA have been a big part of my life. It just seemed natural that I should run for election to the QCWA Board of Directors. If elected I will do my very best to be a Director you can be proud of and I will certainly support QCWA in every way possible.