Janice Anne Wheeler was born October 29, 1948 the only child born to Anne (Nielsen) and Louie T. Carpenter in Pomona, California. The family moved to Wasco in 1954 and Jan attended Wasco elementary schools and graduated from Wasco High School with the Class of 1966. She had many happy memories of growing up in the 50's and 60's in small town America. Jan went on to attend Bakersfield College and earned her Bachelor's Degree from Cal State Bakersfield. Jan was a social worker with Kern County Health and Human Services Department for 25 years and had just retired in 2010. Jan enjoyed sewing in her spare time, going antiquing and collecting ducks; but travel was her passion. She enjoyed many cruises with friends to Hawaii, New England, Alaska, the Bahamas and Mexico. She also loved the Northwest and made several car trips to Washington. She was a member of the Bakersfield Cactus Club and enjoyed special times with her friends in the Margarita Girls. These special times included game nights, cruises and lunches. Jan will be missed by her many, many friends; her partner, Tim Mack; and best friends forever, Sharon Currance and Susan Borton. Jan was preceded in death by her parents. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, September 2, at 10am at Peters Funeral Home for Janice Anne Wheeler, age 62, of Bakersfield who passed away August 29, 2011 at her home in Bakersfield. Interment will follow at Wasco Memorial Park.