Los Angeles
County
Biographies
MONA D. WILK
Mona
D. Wilk is used to doing for others. She
has raised two children of her own, has cared for foster children, and worked
for the Sister Kenny Hospital. These are
just a few of her activities, which lead one to think of her present occupation
– a thriving doughnut business which provides the all-American favorite in
large or small quantities for individuals, clubs, groups or parties – as a
variation on the comforting theme of Mother baking cookies in the kitchen! In 1955 Mrs. Wilk moved to Rosemead, took
over a small doughnut shop across from the post office at 8822 East Valley
Blvd., and changed the name to Wilk’s Drive-In Do-Nut Shop. She has added floor space and expanded the
business to include sandwiches, delivering to schools and factories, otherwise
operating on a cash and carry basis.
Mrs. Wilk has also added an informal redwood coffee room where doughnut
fanciers can sit down and help themselves to coffee. The oldest and largest doughnut shop in
Rosemead, Wilk’s employs four people and two part-time employees, all under the
direction of Mona Wilk.
A
native of California, Mrs. Wilk was born in Oakland on March 16, 1916, the
daughter of John Walker, also a native of California, and Mona D. (Marsden)
Walker of Canada who is still living in Rosemead and is now Mrs. Keiser. Mrs. Wilk’s paternal great-grandfather came
to California during the Gold Rush, settled in Grass Valley, and was the first
blacksmith in northern California; Mrs. Wilk’s children are fourth generation
Californians. Her mother is active in
White Shrine. Mona Wilk received her
elementary education in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Los Angeles, graduated
from Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, and took extension courses in
interior decorating at the University of California at Los Angeles, also
studying for six months at the McKay School of Business in Los Angeles.
From
1937 – 1943 Mrs. Wilk and her first husband, Carl A. Anderson, had a carpet
business in East Los Angeles. Mr.
Anderson was killed in a train accident in 1944. From 1943 – 1949 Mona Wilk remained at home
caring for her own family and foster children from broken homes, and after her
marriage to Lawrence A. Wilk in San Francisco on July 23, 1945, lived for a
time in Ohio, his home state, then returned to California and continued working
with the Union Rescue Mission Service Men’s Club and Cub Scouts. From 1949 – 1953 Mrs. Wilk managed a catering
business, and worked in the outpatient clinic of the Sister Kenny Hospital in
El Monte from 1953 – 1954. Mr. Wilk is
employed by the Southern California Gas Company as he has been for the past
fifteen years. He is a member of the
Rosemead Lions Club.
A
member and director of the Rosemead Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Wilk is also a
charter member of the Rosemead Business and Professional Women’s Club, a
charter member of the Rosemead chapter for the City of Hope, and is active in
the American-Foreign Student Exchange in Rosemead. Since 1956 she has belonged to the Order of
the Eastern Star, chapter 325 in La Puente.
She is a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in La Puente; prior to her
membership in that church she was president of the Ladies Missionary Society in
the Bassettdale Community Church and sponsored its
young people’s group. She and the late
Mr. Anderson were very active in Christian endeavor work in Los Angeles.
A
daughter by her first marriage, Mona Colleen Anderson, was educated through
high school in the La Puente High School District and is now attending Los
Angeles State College. An outstanding
pianist, she gave her first concert at the age of eight, and is head organist
at the Catholic Church of the Annunciation in Arcadia. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilk, Richard Lawrence,
now attends Los Altos High School in North Whittier Heights and is outstanding
in art and drafting.
Mona
Wilk has two related and artistic hobbies, gardening and flower arranging. Her creativity also finds expression in the
“custom made” doughnuts she decorates for different holiday seasons, birthdays,
and showers.
Another
feat of which she is very proud is the building of her home from the ground up
by Mr. Anderson and herself. It is a
large farm-styled home and she actually hammered, sawed, plumbed, and put on
shingles as well as painting and papering.
It has been a haven and real home to many people besides Mrs. Wilk’s own
family.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 831-832, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES