Loretta Williams was born on October 22, 1941 in San Pedro California, to Ica Jewel and William Sheldon Parton. They moved from San Pedro California and bought a house in Inglewood because of World War II. Her Mom was from Arkansas and Dad from Oklahoma. Their family was completed on March 7, 1946, when her sister Barbara was born.
She spent her school years in Inglewood and graduated from Morningside high school. Loretta attended clothing designer school at LA Trade Tech. She designed and made all her dresses and other items. She often said she could design and make a dress in one day.
The Parton’s were a Christian family and attended church regularly. She Came to Atherton Baptist Church in Holly Park, California where it was the first time her husband to be saw her. He was shy and although he noticed her, he did not speak to her. Some weeks later their mothers were talking in the front of the church and Loretta was with her mother and Emory walked up to them and was introduced to Loretta. He still didn’t speak to her. That evening Emory was with a group of friends at church and they talked about asking her to go with them after church services to a sing at another church. Emory had a car and somehow ended up with Loretta sitting next to him in his car. He finally spoke to her and they ended up dating, if you could call it that at church. In August she invited Emory to come to Lake Isabella with her family on their way to Oregon. Emory was in the navy and was able to get the weekend off. After the weekend, Emory went home and Loretta went to Oregon. When Emory got back to the hospital ship on Monday, he had orders to attend the Naval Academy Prep School in Bainbridge Maryland in two weeks. Emory wrote to Loretta and told her of his orders and that he would like to write her. When she received the letter, Loretta wanted to come back home to be with Emory before he had to leave. She came back with her family and they were able to see each other before he left.
Over the next few Months they wrote to each other and Emory received two weeks leave and took the train back to California. They spent that time getting to know each other and Emory asked her to marry him as soon as he returned to his new base assignment and could return back to marry her. Loretta had already bought bridal books and was ready to say yes. Emory had to resign from the prep school and was given a letter of how much the government had spent on his education. As Punishment for quitting the prep school they sent him to a marine base in North Carolina. Emory received his leave to return to California and get married. They were married on June 3 1961, and Loretta went back to North Carolina with Emory and 20 pair of shoes.
They both wanted children while they were young. Their first of 4 children was born a year and a half after they were married. And over the next five years they had their four children, Jonathan, Cynthia, Cheryl and Jeffery.
They now have numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Loretta and Emory loved them all and were lucky to have them in the same area they lived.
Loretta loved entertaining, gardening, crafting, decorating, and painting. She really enjoyed painting so much so that after she lost the use of her right hand after a stroke, she learned to paint with her left hand. She also read through the Bible each year. She was in her 20th year. Loretta loved traveling as well and she and Emory traveled all 50 states and most of Canada together. Their last trip together was to Kentucky to see Noah’s Ark in 2019.
She loved family events and Christmas was her favorite. This last year was the last year she thought she would have Christmas Eve in her home; she was ready to pass it on. Loretta had teas for her daughters, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. She especially loved having any and all of them around. During her last days she was always aware of who was with her. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7, Loretta fought the good fight, she finished the race, and she kept the faith.
We all love you and will miss you until we see you again!
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