Lorraine Naquin Tyler

Frances Lorraine Naquin Tyler, of Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully on March 25, 2025, after a short illness, with family by her side in her final days. Born on November 18, 1930, in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Oliver F. Naquin and Frances Davis Naquin. As a young Naval Lieutenant stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, her father is remembered as a submarine pioneer, having developed and introduced air conditioning in submarines to improve functioning in the tropical waters of the Pacific. In 1939, Naquin was the Captain of the submarine Squalus which sank due to mechanical failure on a test dive off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire – an event of national attention, widely covered in books and film. This traumatic event in her early life was followed in 1941 by the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Her father served as Chief Engineer aboard the USS California which sank shortly after the Japanese attack. Naquin was strafed by gunfire, but unhurt. Mrs. Tyler witnessed anti-aircraft firing from Ft. Ruger, the marines digging in beachside, and experienced the atmosphere of martial law imposed in anticipation of further attacks. She, her mother and brother were among the military dependents evacuated swiftly on Christmas day on three ocean liners converted to transports and, accompanied by a convoy of destroyers, zig-zagged for five days before reaching San Francisco. While then-Commander Naquin served in the Pacific theater (Battle of Coral Sea, Midway, Tassaferonga), the family lived in Washington D.C. where Lorraine attended Sidwell Friends School.

Following the war, the family (now reunited) lived in South Arlington, where Ms. Tyler attended St. Agnes School, graduating in 1948. She graduated from George Washington University in 1952, majoring in psychology. She worked briefly at the Central Intelligence Agency but resigned to accompany her parents to London for two years, her father’s next assignment. On October 29, 1952, Lorraine and her parents were presented at the Court of St. James – the first diplomatic presentation for the new Queen.

In 1956, she married Earl Wayne Tyler, Jr. and the two of them raised their three daughters, Lisa Tyler Garr of Del Ray Beach, Florida, Carole Tyler Dulmage of Saddle River, New Jersey and East Dover, Vermont, and Julia Jennings Tyler of Alexandria, Virginia. The family lived first in Georgetown, and then in Kalorama. Mr. Tyler retired in 1990 as Chairman of Holladay-Tyler Printing Corporation. They divorced in 2006, and Mr. Tyler passed away later that year.

Ms. Tyler traveled extensively with parents, family, academic and study groups, served on innumerable charity benefit committees, and had an active interest in art, archaeology and later, genealogy. She mused that her idea of heaven was a “stack pass” to the Library of Congress. She was a member of the Army-Navy Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, Order of First Families of New Hampshire, and served a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

At age 80, she became a duplicate bridge Life Master, ultimately achieving Bronze level. In her final years, Mrs. Tyler worked on her memoir of her life as a Navy Junior and witness to many incredible events of the 20th century (forthcoming). She is survived by her companion of many years, David A. Fitzwilliam. She was always grateful for her brave, remarkable parents, her three daughters, her sons-in-law Glenn B. Dulmage and Blake B. Kokus, two nephews, one niece, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren – all well-loved – and for the unique and varied experiences and happy outcomes in her life. Her favorite quote was penned by Lady Bird Johnson: “Use, use, use the days – and remember them with love.”

Honoring her wishes, no memorial service is planned. Please honor her in the way most meaningful to you and, in so doing, consider charitable contributions in her memory to Paralyzed Veterans of America or the All Hallows Guild of the Washington National Cathedral.