Lorraine B. Hildebrand's Obituary
Lorraine Hildebrand Lorraine 'Hildy' Hildebrand was born on April 24, 1926 to Ethel and Ernest Barker in Tacoma, WA. She was the third of three daughters, Lois (Henderson) and Doris (Cryer). She passed away peacefully on Wednesday May 23, 2012 at Cottesmore of Life Care in Gig Harbor, WA. Lorraine was 86 years old.
Her childhood was spent in Tacoma where she later met her husband, James A. Hildebrand on a blind date on New Years Eve. Both students of Lincoln High School, they were married on July 10, 1948 in Tacoma, WA. This union was blessed with a full house of five children.
Lorraine was an award-winning Reference Librarian Specialist from Tacoma Community College where she received the John H. Binns Distinguished Service Award for historical information of minority groups in the Northwest. Her works included "Chinook Indians: a Bibliography"; a "1976 US Centennial: A Bibliography of Black Authors in the US"; "Sinophonbia" and "Straw Hats, Sandals and Steel", which is used in many Universities and the Washington State Museum. An Actress at local theater groups including TCC, Lakewood Players and 565 Broadway as well as in local and national television commercials; in addition, she was an active member of her community contributing her time and talents to several charitable organizations. As a self-taught pianist, Lorraine became an active church organist, and an adult and children's choir director for both the Manitou Presbyterian Church in Tacoma and the Fircrest Presbyterian Church.
Always ready for a quick story in many different languages, Lorraine was a loving mother and creative homemaker, enjoying gardening, knitting, Pinochle with family, a hot game of cribbage and lake fishing: a favorite family pastime.
People who knew her describe Lorraine as "being full of personality", "a real character" and "a sweet little lady". An old Irish epitaph reads, "Here lies the part of her that can be buried." Much of Lorraine will live in our memories: her love of music, laughter, literature and family.
Lorraine is survived by her loving family, David, Mark, Janet (Hassouneh) and Pamela (Oquist). Eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Jim, her husband, her two sisters and her daughter Susan.
No public funeral services will be held, but the family strongly requests that a donation be made to Tacoma Lakewood Players Theater in her name. Her 1st grandson said it best, "The great fisherman is fishing with her husband, watching the eagles sore, listening to the robins sing her favorite opera....fish on!!
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
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