Loretta Mae Escher

June 24 at the age of 83 at Ashby Ponds Senior Living in Ashburn, Virginia.

Loretta was born on July 16, 1935 and raised in Washington, D.C., by her adoptive parents

William and Lillian Reeves and by her beloved maternal grandparents “Nannie and Sockie”,

Carson and Wilhemina Hall. In recent years she was contacted by members of her birth family

and is survived by her younger brother, Jerry (and wife Joanne) Bradley. Graduating from Anacostia

High School in 1953, Loretta had the distinction of being Valedictorian of her class. Excelling

in academics, she was awarded a four-year scholarship by George Washington University.

She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1957 and joined the Naval Research

Laboratory as a technical editor and writer. Early in her career with the NRL she was assigned

to project Vanguard, working with the rocket/satellite team in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was

there she met and married her husband, William Escher, just 6 weeks after meeting, on March

9, 1958.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years (2014) and is survived by their children

Melanie, Daric (and wife Glenna), Justin (and wife Lizbeth) and Lauryn (and husband Curt)

as well as 8 grandchildren. Zeddy, as she was known by her grandchildren, leaves a legacy of

learning, curiosity and love.

Loretta dedicated much of her life to her children, husband and his career. There were moves to

Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Huntsville, AL and the Los Angeles area. When the family relocated

to St. Johns, Michigan in 1970, it was to become where they called home. It is near this

home that Loretta will be laid to her final rest, next to her beloved Bill, in a Memorial Ceremony

at DuPlain Cemetery, in August.

Loretta's life journey of changing scenery continued after successfully raising her Children in St.

Johns. She continued to follow the path of her husband's career which led them to Toronto,

Canada, Madison, Wisconsin, back to Los Angeles, back to D.C. and back to Huntsville. Loretta

fostered strong friendships everywhere she lived and was an active volunteer in church and

community. She enjoyed music and dance and had a love of animals. Loretta was always interested

in connecting with history and culture at every opportunity, attending concerts, lectures

and visiting museums, locally and on the many trips she and her husband made abroad, including

to Japan, India, Australia and Europe.

Loretta was an amazing woman who was characterized by her bright intellect and desire to discuss

current events, read, write and always learn. It gave her joy to share her interests with others.

She will live on in all of the people she has touched and influenced during her life. Please

join her family in celebrating her life and the many wonderful memories she has left for all of us.