In the war torn 40’s, Lorraine & Dave met on a beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Once married, Dave & Lorraine settled in Arizona to be part of a church that Dave’s former army Chaplin was starting and to attend Arizona State University. Lorraine, who had worked for the phone company in NJ, went to work at the Ice Company’s office while Dave attended school & worked for the Jewish Community Center. They lived in married student housing and met several life-long friends.
After graduation, the family, now including sons Skip & Scott, moved to Thornton Colorado. Dave taught PE, coached varsity football, & managed the city pools. Lorraine had her hands full with two boys and played a supporting role for football players and their families. Again, several life-long friendships were formed.
Church remained an important value in the lives of the Roderick family. Before they met, Lorraine attended a local Presbyterian church & Dave chose different churches based on their basketball teams! The Northglenn Christian Church’s first services were held in their basement.
In the 60’s, the family moved to the upper desert of Southern California where Dave coached & taught at AVHS and Lorraine later worked as a librarian at Del Sur & Joe Walker Jr. High schools. Lorraine regularly taught children’s Sunday School at Central Christian Church and, with Dave, spent several years raising funds for special needs citizens with Desert Haven Auctions. Lorraine also enjoyed shopping in the garment district of LA, cooking for family & friends and visiting family on the east coast, friends in Mexico and traveling to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary.
Lorraine had her share of tough times in Lancaster. A serious auto accident that required neck surgery, her son Skip’s passing while teaching on Navajo land in Arizona and the desert spring season brought serious respiratory illnesses for Dave. Eventually his asthma influenced their move to the village by the sea-Carlsbad.
In Carlsbad Lorraine & Dave enjoyed life at the beach! Through the years they would make new friends & serve churches in the surrounding area, travel to Ireland, Europe & Hawaii as well as visits with family in New Jersey, Oregon & later Huntington Beach.
Two years after Dave passed, Lorraine relocated to Huntington Beach to be near her son Scott’s family. Lorraine made new friends at the women’s Bible study, traveled to Utah for her granddaughter Kelsey’s wedding and a final trip to the east coast for Thanksgiving & a niece’s wedding. After a hip fracture, Loraine never regained the ability to walk and began to look forward to “the Lord taking her home” which came true for her on March 12, 2019.
Service Information
Officiant: Phyllis Coulson, Women's Director First Christian Church, Huntington Beach
Speakers: Jack Sounart & Kelsey Roderick Helf
Charitable donations:
William Jessup University
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