Gladys "Lorraine" King

Gladys Lorraine Strohl Owens King was born in Clarksburg, Illinois June 11, 1924, to Noah and Ruby Strohl. After graduating from Shelbyville High School, she moved to Chicago with friends and began her secretarial training. Eventually, she moved to Indianapolis with her sister Mildred and went to work at Herff Jones. It was there she met Garnet V. “Bud” Owens, while he was home on leave from WWII. After meeting at a party, Bud went home and told his sister, I just met the woman I’m going to marry. They were married in November 1946 and remained married for 49 years until Bud left this earth. In 1999, she married Charles W. King, a man she had been friends with more than 50 years prior. They were married almost 10 years before he passed. Bud and Lorraine had two daughters, Diana Kaga and Darlene Brown. Unfortunately, Diana passed away in 2018. Lorraine has been blessed with 6 grandchildren: Tina Collins, Christa Kaga, Chad Kaga, Bonnie Hunter, Ariel Corlew (Daryl), and Rachel Melton (Zachary), and 9 great-grandchildren. After marrying Chuck, Lorraine added to her family a bonus daughter, Marsha King Fawcett (Dan), and her son and his children.

Lorraine worked alongside Bud for The Fuller Brush company and was known as the original Fuller Brush Lady. Lorraine continued to call on customers in Indianapolis until she officially retired for good at the age of 91. Over the years Lorraine enjoyed being a homemaker the most. Cooking was her favorite thing to do. She loved to have as many family members as she could, into her home, for holiday dinners. She made an amazing replica of L.S.Ayres chicken velvet soup. Lorraine loved to cook for other people, and she also had a tender heart for those who were hurting. Once when she read in the paper (her other favorite hobby, having subscribed to Indy Star for 70 years) about a fallen police officer, she made a meal to take to his family. She was also often found working the polls for the Republican party. Lorraine also had a knack for being found in “situations''. She was so hurt at the treatment of Ryan White; that she went to his funeral. Somehow, she wound up on the front page of the paper while they carried out his casket. When Chick-fil-A opened on 86th Street, she got in line at 8 pm the night before to be one of the first 100. She met 3 teenage boys who let her stay in their tent while they slept in their car. She was first in line. There are so many other stories that show the stubbornness and uniqueness of the woman we lovingly refer to as Nanny Raine or Mousie.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Castleview, or the Alzheimer’s Association.