Lorraine Moran

Lorraine Moran of Elkins, formerly of Kerens, celebrated her 102nd birthday the week of July 10 with family at Smith Mountain Lake, Va.

The family enjoyed swimming, boating, fishing, shopping, walking, board games, watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the lake, and sharing many family stories. The family also enjoyed a special meal together at Vinney’s on the afternoon of Lorraine’s official birthday!

Those in attendance for the week long celebration were Linda Collins from West Virginia; Greta and Kenna Kuhl, Cindy Kuhl and Confesor, all from Ohio; Vera Hammond, John and Jennifer Hammond and their children, Noah and Lyla, and Jimmy Collins, all from North Carolina; Carole and Tim Surgent from New Jersey ; Tori Hall and Daniel Kaiser from Kentucky.

Others who acknowledged her special birthday with visits, notes, cards, and/or gifts, included Karan and Peter Larlee from Maine and their sons, Samuel and Jack; Cathi and PJ Champino from Florida and their children, Max and Gabby; Lexi and Kagan Schafer, Anna Porcher, Cindy Brown, Dotti and Bill Jilek, all from Ohio; Vicki Concannon from Texas; Matthew and Mateal Poling from West Virginia; Nancy Gatewood from Virginia; Robert Hammond, Kathleen Hammond, Biba Collins, and Kathy Jeffreys all from NC; Rosanne Burke from KY; Ron Kuhl, Kathy Timmons and Reba, June and Angelo Semenick, Bobbi Trimboli, all from Elkins; and Lorraine’s many friends and neighbors.

Lorraine was born on July 10, 1923, and raised on a farm during the Great Depression. She and her two brothers and two sisters learned many skills and the value of hard work from their parents, William and Lavinia Poling.

During World War II, Lorraine worked in Elkins preparing and serving meals for military personnel stationed here for training. In June of 1943, Lorraine married John H. Moran, Jr in Rockford, Illinois. She had traveled there to join him as he served in the U.S. Army. She accompanied him to each of his military assignments until he was sent overseas in February of 1945. In April, he was wounded during fierce fighting along the Sieg River in Germany. Upon his return to the U.S., John and Lorraine built a small home on Lower Cheat and began to build their lives and family of three young children, Linda, Greta, and Vera. However, their life together was short-lived, with her husband passing away in 1956 after a long terminal illness.

As a result of Lorraine’s work preparing and serving meals to the military personnel, Our Town invited her to become a local “Rosie”, honoring all those women who helped with the war effort by building planes and ships, making uniforms, farming and growing food, and doing all those things needed to support the war effort and maintain the home front.

The Emma Scott Garden Club raised money for a Rosie the Riveter statue and it was completed, shipped to Elkins and is now standing in the Veterans Memorial Park in Elkins. These past few months Lorraine has attended the welcoming of the Rosie statue to Elkins in May, accompanied Rosie in June as she was moved through downtown to the Veteran’s Memorial Park for installation, and she was present for the dedication and unveiling of the Rosie the Riveter statue on July 14.

Lorraine was asked by the Emma Scott Garden Club to represent the Rosies in The Coalton Days parade. Our Town sponsored a July 4th parade in which Lorraine was asked to be the Grand Marshall. She rode in a 1929 Ford Model A owned and driven by Mike Elza. We extend great thanks and appreciation to all of these organizations and dignitaries such as Mayor Marco and Senator Morris for their many kindnesses towards Lorraine.

She has always worked in the garden and enjoyed canning and preserving vegetables and fruits. Lorraine kept herself busy with crocheting, arts and crafts, basket and chair bottom weaving, traveling, and reading. Through the years she has volunteered many hours with 4-H, Tyrand Parish, Augusta Heritage, Rebecca Lodge #98, WVU Extension. Homemakers. She was a Randolph County Belle, a member of the Weaver’s Guild, and maintains her membership in the John Hart Chapter of the DAR, and is a Lifetime Member of the VFW #3647.