Lorraine Coleman Gowder, 95, a native of Clarke County and resident of Spanish Fort, passed away Monday, March 31, 2014 at the Bay Ridge skilled-care facility of Westminster Village in Spanish Fort.
Lorraine attended Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo) in Montevallo.
After college, she worked in Monroeville. It was there she met her husband, Luther E. Gowder. They were married in September 1941 and remained married for 64 years until Luther’s death in December 2004.
She became a military spouse while her husband trained for and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After the war, she and her husband began their civilian life. They reared two daughters, while living many years in both Eutaw and Evergreen. Lorraine always supported her daughters in everything they did.
She was an active member of Eutaw United Methodist Church. She taught the 4- and 5-year-old Sunday classes for many years and vacation bible school in the summers. She was active in the church women’s group (which is now known as United Methodist Women).
After moving to Evergreen in 1964, she was an active member of Evergreen United Methodist Church in many capacities.
She and her husband moved to Spanish Fort in 1991. They joined Spanish Fort United Methodist Church, where she remained a member until her death.
Lorraine and her husband made many new friends while living at Westminster Village Retirement Community.
She was preceded in death by her parents, E.V. and Lettie Coleman; husband, Luther E. Gowder; and granddaughter, Ellen S. Hinson.
Lorraine is survived by her daughters, Sue G. (Charlie) Armstrong of Pensacola and Ruth G. (Leon) Hinson of New Orleans; grandchildren, Jay (Michelle) Armstrong of Brandon, Miss., Alison (Clay) Mather of Pensacola and Matthew Hinson of New Orleans; and great-grandchildren, MaryLynn Mather and Denton Mather, both of Pensacola.
The family would like to thank Dr. Keith Varden, the staff of Westminster Village Assisted Living, the staff of Bay Ridge Skilled Care and the nurses and staff of Gentiva Hospice for all the wonderful love, concern and care given to our mother. She could not have been in better care.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 2 p.m., from the chapel of Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Daphne, with the Rev. Debora Bishop officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, from 1:30-2 pm.
Interment will follow in Memory Gardens of Fairhope.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the United Methodist Children’s Home, 3140 Zelda Court, Montgomery, AL 36106-2607, 334-386-5354.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Daphne.
