Obituary

Lorraine friend, 91, died december 3, 2016, after a long illness. She was surrounded by her family and was cared for lovingly by the staff of dunbar center. She was born louise lorraine flint to rosa (mctheny) and coy flint on december 12, 1924, in braxton county. She was married for 68 years to odbert noel “bert” friend, who preceded her in death on december 29, 2014. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, bacil, maxine, eugene, kenneth, charles, wilma, anne, and kay. She attended gassaway high school and married bert on july 15, 1946. Lorraine and bert lived in frametown, braxton county, until they moved with their sons, rod and terry, to charleston in 1959. They settled in the sugar creek community and stayed there for nearly 50 years. The couple later moved to south charleston before entering skilled nursing care. Lorraine was retired from kanawha county schools, where she worked as a reading aide at several elementariness’, including, woodlawn, sugar creek, edison, and bridgeview. She was a lifelong methodist and member of greenlee united methodist church from 1959 until it merged into canaan united methodist church. She served as church treasurer for more than 30 years as well as a sunday school teacher, volleyball player, and youth leader. She was a long-serving member of the women’s society of christian service, now called united methodist women, and spent many nights in the church kitchen helping with covered-dish dinners. She was also a skilled quilter and spent many happy afternoons in a quilting circle with her friends. She was the oldest daughter and matriarch of her family, helping to care for her younger siblings and their children. She stayed close to her family in braxton county after she moved to charleston, returning to the family farm as often as she could to help care for her parents. She continued to organize annual family reunions for many years. She was a beloved mother and grandmother, kind and gentle. She kept her kitchen stocked with chocolate milk and fruit loops and made sure to serve chocolate fudge and cherry pie because she knew her grandchildren liked them – and because she had a sweet tooth. In addition to her sons, she is survived by her daughters-in-law, nanya friend and kathy friend; grandchildren kara moore and husband t.W., loren farmer and husband michael, keith friend, and brian friend; and great-grandchildren lydia and meredith moore. She is also survived by three brothers-in-law, dale dennison, charlie mathey, and bob wolfe; one sister-in-law, jean flint; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Service will be 1 p.M. Wednesday, december 7, at christ church united methodist, 1221 quarrier street, charleston, with the rev. Steve rhodes officiating. Interment will follow at tyler mountain memory gardens mausoleum. Friends may call for one hour prior to the service at the church. Barlow bonsall funeral home is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the bob burdette center, 1401 washington street, west, charleston, wv 25387.