Nina Taylor Lenz-Kuhn

Nina Taylor Lenz-Kuhn was born in Mounds, Oklahoma, the second of three surviving children of Welby “Dick” and Erma Dorman Taylor. She grew up in Wichita Falls, and attended the Academy of Mary Immaculate. In 1942, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

Due to her knowledge of the oil industry and the shortage of manpower brought on by World War II, she became one of the first women hired by the Texas Company (later Texaco) in a non-secretarial position. There she met petroleum engineer William C. Lenz. They married in November of 1944. During Bill’s career, they lived in Wichita Falls, Fort Worth, Midland, and Los Angeles, before retiring to Lakeway in 1981.

She was a talented musician and a tireless promoter for symphony and opera organizations, especially the guilds of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Austin Lyric Opera. She participated in her sorority’s almna groups, the Petroleum Engineers’ Wives club, and the Texaco Retirees group. She was also a member of the Wednesday Morning Music Club, and Austin Women’s Club.

Nina Lenz-Kuhn dressed elegantly, took an avid interest in politics, read voraciously, and was positively the worst cook in the western hemisphere. The latter presented problems when entertaining her good friend Mary Price, who had authored a famous cookbook with her former husband, Vincent. Nevertheless, Nina was a gifted and charming hostess with a real flair for people.

She was preceded in death by Bill, her husband of 50 years; and Mike, her husband since January 1999. She is survived by daughters Mary Lenz, Sarah Cliff, and Jane Elder, and three grandchildren: William Elder, newly married to Chelsea Kemp Elder, Charlie Cliff, and Margaret Elder.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Austin Lyric Opera or the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in Fort Worth.