September 17, 2014

Lorraine Bruner Wilcox, 84, of Paola, Kan., passed away Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 at her home.

Born Jan. 6, 1930, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Walter Eberlee and Agnes Mackie Bruner, Lorraine grew up near Mapleton, Kan., graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1947, and in December of 1947, graduated from Templeton School of Cosmetology.

On June 5, 1949, Lorraine was united in marriage to W.H. Wilcox Jr. They made their home on a farm near Blue Mound, Kan., and were blessed with three children. In 1957, the family moved to Paola, Kan., where Lorraine would come to own and operate the LaRose Beauty Salon until she retired in 1985. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Paola, Kan.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Agnes Bruner; two sisters, Mary Josephine Bruner, Pauline Badders; and one brother, Virgil Bruner; and most recently her twin sister, Leora Ross on Sept. 9, 2014.

She is survived by her husband, W.H Wilcox Jr. of the home; three children, Ken Wilcox of Houston, Texas, Bill Wilcox (Colleen) of Olathe, Kan., and Rosemary Watson (Charlie) of Blue Mound, Kan.; 10 grandchildren and their families; three sisters, Venita Miller of Kincaid, Kan., Shirley Ball of Garnett, Kan., and Marilyn Bruner of Fort Scott, Kan.; sister-in-law, Freda Bruner of Mound City, Kan.; two brothers, Willard Bruner and wife Darla, and Joe Bruner, all of Fort Scott, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 305, N. Pearl St., Paola, Kan. Burial was in Blue Mound Cemetery, Blue Mound, Kan.

It was Lorraine’s request that memorials be made to Autism Speaks or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelPaola.com. Penwell-Gabel Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, (913) 294-2372.

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