Laura Elizabeth Kalmar

In what can only be described as an idyllic childhood, Laura and her two siblings, Walter and Ruth, enjoyed living year-round at Wrightsville Beach at a time when very few families did. The porch of their Columbia Street house overlooked the ocean and the spot at the end of the street where everyone checked surf conditions. Their home routinely hosted an eccentric cast of characters and always had a cold keg of beer available on the porch for all visitors to enjoy. Laura found great joy in keeping the family stories alive, endlessly recounting the tales of her parents and their many friends, as well as the escapades of her siblings.

That spirited, salt-aired upbringing never left her. Laura had infectious laughter, extremely kind eyes and a very social disposition. She loved entertaining her friends at the Surf Club and running-in to old friends there. Never once did she leave her minimum unused! Inspired by her father’s involvement in Freemasonry, Laura enjoyed her affiliation with the Cape Fear Order of the Eastern Star.

Laura was predeceased by her father, John Nicholas Kalmar; her mother, Claire Virginia Reid Kalmar; and her sister, Ruth Caroline Kalmar Lewis. She is survived by her brother, Walter Reid Kalmar of Wrightsville Beach, NC; her nieces, Caroline Elizabeth Lewis and her husband, Dante DiSimplico of New York, NY, and Sara Reid Lewis of Charlottesville, Va.; and her brother-in-law, Richard Alan Lewis of Charlotte, NC. 

The family members would like to express their gratitude and appreciation for the angelic service and care provided to Laura in her home by Denise, Makenit, Anita, Joey, and Olivia, as well as the services provided by Lower Cape Fear Life Care.

Friends and family will gather for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Valley Chapel of Andrews Mortuary, 4108 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM, with the service starting at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wrightsville Beach Foundation. The Wrightsville Beach Foundation collaborates with educational and caregiving organizations to support the needs of our community, especially those involving mental health.

Wrightsville Beach Foundation

P. O. Box 956

Wrightsville Beach NC 28480

(910)620-0281

[email protected]

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