Lorraine Pitchford
Lorraine Pitchford
Lorraine Pitchford, 99, of Florida formerly of Richview, passed away Thursday, October 3, 2019 at her home surrounded by family.
She was born February 6, 1920 in Richview, daughter of Thomas Russell and Carrie (Randall) Russell. She married Lester Pitchford on December 28, 1940 and he preceded her in death on September 8, 2015.
Lorraine is survived by two daughters, Nancy Roethemeyer of Richview and Sharon Creed and husband Gary of Waterloo. Six grandchildren Brian Grathwohl and wife Michele of Richview; Sheila Burcham and husband Matt; Amy Stevens and husband Josh all of Nashville; Angela Creed and husband Ed Hengel of Columbia, Scott Creed of Waterloo; and Nicole Creed and husband Jeff Fleece of Houston, Texas. Thirteen great grandchildren, Stephanie Grathwohl, Curtis Grathwohl and wife Danielle, Justin Grathwohl, Emma Grathwohl, Brittany Evans and husband Jonathan, Danielle Stambaugh and husband Jonathon, Brooke Burcham, Lucas Knepp, Abby Knepp, August Hengel, Macie Hengel, Nicholas and John Fleece. Four great great grandsons Leland and Roland Stambaugh; Micah Evans; Gavin Grathwohl with the fifth, another baby Grathwohl due in November. A brother Donald Russell and wife Nancy of Richview. Two sisters Phyllis Mitchell of Mt. Vernon and Marilyn Becancenez and husband Robert of Largo, Florida. Two sisters-in-law Marjorie Murphy of St. Clairsville, Ohio and Marie Finke of Kansas City, Missouri.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband Lester, sons-in-law Curtis Grathwohl and Donald Roethemeyer. Brothers and sisters Thomas L Russell, Stanley Russell, Betty Russell, Charles Gene Russell and Gerald Russell. Sisters-in-law Dorothy Russell, Betty Russell, Viola Reed, and Irma Pitchford. Brothers-in-law Don Mitchell, Raymond Murphy, Oliver Finke, and Wesley Pitchford.
Lorraine worked hard along the side of her husband Lester in their strawberry fields, apple and peach orchards building up their business in the early years. She loved cooking for her family even delivering meals to the fields during planting and harvest season. She enjoyed gardening sharing the fruits of her labor with family and friends. For the past almost fifty years she loved spending the winters in Florida until moving there permanently. Lorraine was very competitive and enjoyed playing bingo and dominoes. She leaves behind a legacy of love and fond memories for all who knew her. She and Lester were blessed with many wonderful caregivers over the past five years and the family extends their great appreciation for all their love and care.
Funeral Services for Lorraine Pitchford will be held Friday, October 11, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia with Rev. Nathan Wollenberg officiating. Entombment will follow at Richview Cemetery in Richview. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 10, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home and Friday morning from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Richview Cemetery and/or Donor’s Choice and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Pitchford Family.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com.
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