02/02/2007
Lorraine A. Calkins, 70, passed away at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, in the comfort of her family following a lengthy illness. Born in Waterbury Center on February 5, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Agnes (Gray) Ripley. Lorraine married Walter Luce on June 26, 1954, in Biloxi, Mississippi. On August 19, 1978, she married William Calkins in Waterbury.
Lorraine was a 1954 graduate of Waterbury High School. Following her marriage, she was busy as a homemaker and raising her family. Lorraine later was employed as a bus driver for Harwood Union High School for eight years and in 1978 won the annual statewide School Bus Rodeo. She later worked as a sales clerk for Capitol Stationers and as a cashier for Grand Union, both of Montpelier, retiring in 1996.
Her memberships included the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Montpelier and she was extensively involved in both individual congregations and statewide for over 46 years, the Montpelier Cribbage League, the He's and She's Bowling League, was a past president of the International Cribbage Association, and was a former member of the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 59 in Waterbury. In her leisure time she enjoyed cribbage, bowling, bingo, garage sales and flea markets, motorcycling and going to Canobie Lake in Salem, NH.
Lorraine is survived by her husband, William Calkins of Montpelier; her children, Sharon Carter and her husband, Bruce, of Weatherford, TX, Linda Gile and her husband, Skip, of Jericho, Melaney Hills and her husband, David, of Orem, UT, Cindy Black and her husband, Greg, of Provo, UT, Walter Luce and his companion, Mary Harney, of E. Hardwick, Fred Luce and his wife, Carly, of Allenstown, NH; her stepdaughters, Lisa Catchapaw and her husband, Robert, of Barre, Debra O'Connell and her husband, Chris, of Bolton, and Donna Storti and her husband, Joe, of Barre; 28 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Pauline Lemery of Waterbury Center, Pearl Metayer of Hyde Park, and Jacqueline Beitzel and her husband, Ron, of Hickory, NC; a brother, Stanley Ripley and his wife, Barb, of Waterbury Center; as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was predeceased by two brothers, Howard Ripley and Frederick Ripley, and a sister, Sylvia Ripley.
The family would like to extend their appreciation for the care and kindness that was extended to Lorraine and her family at both Genesis Elder Care in Morrisville and the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services were held from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Montpelier on Saturday, January 27, 2007. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 10 Ferry Street, Suite 427B, Concord, NH 03301-5004. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
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