Loralu D. Billings, longtime Cushing resident, went to be with Josh on August 31, 2008, which would have been their 67th wedding anniversary.
The daughter of the late Daniel Abram Dean and Louise Harrington Dean, Loralu was born on November 30, 1917 in Iola, Kansas.
She was united in marriage to J.W. “Josh” Billings on August, 31, 1941 in the First Presbyterian Church in Cushing. To this union, two daughters, Sandralu and Sheri, were born.
Loralu, at the age of 16, attended Chickasha College, then referred to as the Oklahoma College for Women, where she served as President of both her freshman and sophomore class. She then transferred to the University of Oklahoma graduating from OU in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In 1940, she went back to receive a degree in Library Science, receiving a Professional Lifetime Librarian Certificate.
Loralu was officially known as “office dean” at Cushing High School before getting her dream job as secretary to the Oklahoma State Librarian in Oklahoma City.
Upon her marriage to Josh, both seeing various Posts and Forts courtesy of US Army from MD, Idaho, Louisiana she returned to Cushing to live while Josh was serving his Country during World War II.
Loralu was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church, holding several leadership positions in the church. She was involved for many years with the Girl Scouts; local leadership of the March of Dimes; Geographic Club; Hypathia Club; Cushing Library Board and as a Water Safety Instructor, will be remembered by many as “the swimming instructor” at the Cushing Municipal Pool.
Survivors include her two daughters, Sandralu Bell and her husband James of Arlington, TX, and Sheri Pfeiffer and her husband John of Louisville, KY; four grandchildren, Jill, Christian, Justin and Daniel; one great-grandchild, Ian and other relatives and friends.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. in the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Tom Stewart, pastor, officiating.
You may share your condolences with the Billings family at www.davisfh.net.
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.
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