With profound sadness and deep gratitude for a life richly lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Lena Lorraine Brown on October 10, 2026, in Newville, Pennsylvania, just days after celebrating her 101st birthday.
Surrounded by the love of family and the memories of a century well lived, Lorraine leaves behind a legacy of kindness, wisdom, faith, and unwavering devotion to those she loved.
Lorraine was born on October 2, 1925, to James Rufus Bodkin and Gladys Dale Gower Bodkin.
Throughout her remarkable life, she remained grounded in the values that defined her: love of family, integrity, service to others, and an enduring belief that life’s challenges could be met with hope and grace. Her favorite saying, “Everything always works out for the best,” became much more than words. It was the outlook by which she lived and the gift she passed on to generations of family and friends.
A lifelong learner and gifted educator, Lorraine graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1944 before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Maryland. She spent many years teaching home economics, sharing practical skills and encouraging countless students through her knowledge, patience, and enthusiasm.
Lorraine possessed many talents and interests. She was a talented painter, needlecrafter, writer, and avid reader. She found joy in creating beauty, whether through her artwork, her sewing, or the warm and welcoming meals she lovingly prepared for family and friends. Her delicious desserts, skilled seamstress work, and creative spirit became hallmarks of her care for others.
Above all else, Lorraine was devoted to her family. She embraced every role she held in life with love and generosity: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She treasured time spent with those she loved and delighted in sharing stories from her many life experiences. Those stories, filled with wisdom, humor, and lessons learned over a century of living, will continue to be passed down and cherished for generations.
Lorraine shared a beautiful and enduring love story with her husband, William Martin Brown, who preceded her in death. The two met while attending West Virginia Wesleyan College and later married in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Bill often said that Lorraine was the love of his life, and together they built a partnership rooted in faith, mutual respect, and devotion. As a pastor’s wife, Lorraine graciously shared her gifts and compassion with every church community Bill served, touching countless lives along the way.
Though she experienced profound losses throughout her life, including the deaths of her husband, her sister, Virginia Mae King, her son Paul, grandson Xavier, and great-grandson Riggs, Lorraine met each season with courage, resilience, and a steadfast faith in God’s goodness. Her strength and optimism inspired all who knew her.
Lorraine is lovingly remembered by her children, Ann Elise (Tim), Carol Elaine (Steve), and Peter Eric (Monica); grandchildren Joshua, Sarah, Emily, Christopher, David, and Kirsten; and great-grandchild Rowan. They will forever carry forward the lessons she taught, the love she shared, and the countless memories she created.
To know Lorraine was to experience warmth, encouragement, and acceptance. Her life was a testament to the power of positivity, compassion, and unconditional love. While her family grieves her passing, they rejoice in the extraordinary gift of her 101 years and find comfort in knowing that her influence will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
Funeral services will be held at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc., Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Private interment will be at Spring Hill Cemetery.
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