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Mrs. Lorraine Moran of Elkins celebrated her 99th birthday with family and friends at Claytor Lake, Dublin, Virginia.
The theme of her 99th birthday was "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and the red and white gingham decorations, special cookies, signs and posters held true to that theme.
Her birthday cake was a custom-made Mason jar, and beverages were served in pint Mason jars. At this time, the birthdays of Nancy Gatewood, Kathleen Hammond and Mike Gibson were also recognized.
Her birthday week was spent visiting and catching up with loved ones. Days were spent visiting and paying respects at the Draper Meadows Massacre site at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and at the Mary Draper Ingles Memorial in Radford, Virginia. Afternoon highlights were cruising Claytor Lake on pontoon boats. Nights were spent relaxing by campfires and playing family board games.
Lorraine Moran was born July 10, 1923, in Upshur County, to William and Lavinia Poling. On June 13, 1943, in Rockville, Illinois, she married John Moran Jr., a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps and later of the U.S. Army 8th Division, 121st Infantry.
During World War II, he served in the European theatre, earning for his service, among other commendations, the Bronze Star, two battle stars, and the Purple Heart. John H. Moran Jr. died in July 1956.
Mrs. Moran is the mother of three daughters, Linda Sharon Collins, Greta Kuhl and Vera Hammond. She has six grandchilden, 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She is a former Randolph County Belle and is currently a member of the John Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; a member of Nays Chapel United Methodist Church near Sand Run in Upshur County; the Weavers Guild; Rebeckah Lodge 98; and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 3627.
She has always enjoyed playing bingo, reading, sewing, crocheting, weaving baskets and chair bottoms, gardening, doing word search puzzles, walking, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Celebrating her 99th birthday at Claytor Lake were Linda Collins of Elkins; Vera Hammond of Fayetteville, North Carolina; John and Jennifer Hammond and children Noah and Lyla of Greenville, North Carolina; Jimmy Collins of Bakersville, North Carolina; Nancy Gatewood of Woodbridge, Virginia; Mike Gibson of Woodbridge, Virginia; Kathleen Hammond of Pinehurst, North Carolina; Carole and Tim Surgent of Neptune, New Jersey; Cindy Kuhl and Confesor Badillo of Seville, Ohio; Lexi Hall of Orrville, Ohio; and Greta and Kenna Kuhl of Canal Fulton, Ohio.
At 99, Lorraine Moran is a "wealth of information, wisdom and history, and is a constant inspiration to her family and friends," her loved ones said.