Grace E. Lorton, née Petkus, age 97, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2022, in her San Antonio, TX, apartment. She was born in New York City, NY, on December 24, 1924, the daughter of John and Alice Petkus, who preceded her in death. A long-time resident of San Antonio, TX, she was widowed in 1993 with the passing of her husband, Harold F. Lorton of White Hall, IL.
Grace grew up in Williston Park, Long Island, NY, where she attended Cross Street grade school and graduated from Mineola High School. She worked as a typist during World War II and moved to the Chicago area where in 1946 she married the love of her life, Harold, who was in the U.S. Navy before and during the War, and whom she had met on Christmas Eve 1942 in New York City. Within a year, they relocated to the Buffalo, NY, area, where her parents lived. There they raised four children and moved to San Antonio in 1974 after Harold's retirement from Western Electric. In San Antonio she worked for a while as a salesperson at Montgomery Ward. An avid reader, she was an active volunteer at the Thousand Oaks branch of the San Antonio Public Library for many years and was named a Library Champion. She participated in a bowling league. A life-long Episcopalian, she attended Church of Reconciliation until she moved across town to Madison Estates on Fredericksburg Road.
Grace is survived by a sister, Phyllis Paulantonio of Johnson City, TN, and by four children: Ronald Dean Lorton of San Antonio, TX; Kenneth Ray Lorton and wife Lisa of Conroe, TX; Audrey Jean Muscarella and husband Michael of Tonawanda, NY; and Harold Allen Lorton and wife Deedee of Gonzales, TX. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio 78218, at 12:30 pm, Tuesday, February 8. Visitation will be at the same location at 11 am the same day, with burial at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2 p.m. that afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the San Antonio Public Library Foundation or the American Heart Association via their websites.
Condolences may be offered at www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com.
