Frankie Kincannon's Obituary, Oct 29, 2003

Frankie Kincannon

Obituary: Frankie Kincannon, 77, was avid bicyclist, ride organizer
By Steve Gibson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, October 29, 2004
Frankie Kincannon was a giant in Sacramento bicycling circles, a founder of the community's two major cycling organizations and tireless worker who helped organize and support countless club rides.

Mrs. Kincannon, 77, who died Wednesday of congestive heart failure, was remembered as "the consummate volunteer" by one bicycling friend. "If here was a job that needed to be done," said John Fraser, "she would be the first to volunteer."

An avid cyclist, Mrs. Kincannon rode until knee and back problems sidelined her, then began driving support vehicles on rides sponsored by the BikeHikers and Wheelmen.

She also helped feed hordes of hungry bike riders and, for more than two decades, was chief organizer and host of the BikeHikers' annual North Coast Bike Tour.

Along with her late husband, Wayne, she oversaw meal planning and preparation for the popular North Coast trip each summer.

"Everyone who was fortunate enough to experience one (of those tours) knows just how much work went into putting them on," said Mike Vignogna.

During the holidays, Mrs. Kin-cannon did all the cooking and baking for the couple's annual open house, serving a feast to anyone in Sacramento's bicycling community who cared to attend.

Frankie Mae Merriman was born in Charleston, Kan., and reared in Colorado and Kansas. She was a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II, driving trucks for Southern Pacific railroad, said her son, Lewayne Kincannon.

Shortly after the war, and still employed by SP, she met Wayne Kincannon, a fellow SP worker. They married Dec. 19, 1945, in Dodge City, Kan.

A few years later, the couple relocated to Sacramento, where Mrs. Kincannon became an X-ray technician. Her husband became a meat cutter for a supermarket.

Both she and her husband had been avid smokers before giving up the habit in the early 1970s.

"Dad was smoking three packs a day, and mom was smoking a pack to a pack and a half," their son said.

After giving up cigarettes, the Kincannons became restless "and were kind of going crazy" when they discovered bicycling as an outlet, their son said.

One thing led to another, and the couple purchased fancier bikes, eventually becoming avid cyclists, their son said.

"Mom would go on the short rides, and he would go on the longer ones," he said.

Before long, the Kincannons found themselves helping to organize the BikeHikers and the Wheelmen.

"She was a wonderful mentor to me when I was first learning bicycle skills many years ago," recalled Cindy Hayashi. "She taught me how to 'climb that mountain.'"

Long after Mrs. Kincannon was forced to give up riding, she continued as a key volunteer at the Party Pardee, Sierra and El Dorado centuries - 100-mile organized rides.

Her last volunteer gig was as a driver on the American Lung Association ride in Oregon in August, her son said.

"She was a very quiet and unassuming person who did a lot without seeking any recognition," said Gene Masuda, a former president of the Wheelmen. "Everyone's going to miss her."

Frankie Kincannon
Born: Feb. 12, 1927

Died: Oct. 27, 2004

Remembered for: Her work as a volunteer supporting countless Sacramento Wheelmen and BikeHikers rides

Survived by: Son, Lewayne Kincannon of Sacramento; brothers, Edward Clinton Merriman of Desert Hot Springs and Keith Allen Merriman of Greeley, Colo.; and two grandchildren.

Back to the Cinelli | Back to Campy Only