Hope Loraine Ingels Thomas Mietlicki

Hope Loraine Ingels Thomas Mietlicki died at the age of 103 on Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Bella Vista, Ark. Loraine, as she was called by family and friends, was born New Year's Eve 1910 in Kansas City, Kan., and lived her early days in Chillicothe, Mo., and Phoenix, Ariz., where she moved via Touring Car in 1918. Loraine graduated from high school in 1928, and soon married the love of her life, L. Arthur Thomas, on May 5, 1929. The couple moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in 1939 where she was later employed as a draftsman for Douglas Aircraft during World War II. Art was an architect working with the 6th U.S. Army Engineers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and then the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Loraine, a civil service secretary, worked in several areas including the I.C.C. Price Commission Cabinet Committee, retiring in 1979. Art died in 1965. On March 22, 1971, she married Edward Mietlicki. During their 40 years together, Ed and Loraine bought, remodeled and sold many houses until they moved to Bella Vista in November 2007. Preserving family history was always very important to her, so periodically a surprise package would show up on a family doorstep with a family treasure — pictures, quilts, silver settings, needlepoint or knitted gifts. Her memory was remarkable, and in a few short months in 2013, she penned her memoirs which were transcribed by Kari Woodcock and edited and privately printed with the help of her brother, Dick. Loraine's beautiful handwritten notes kept her connected to family and friends across the country throughout her life. She was an elegant lady with her signature wardrobe of lace patterned sweaters, many of her own design. Her interests included painting, sewing, the piano, jewelry design, bridge, golf, and entertaining and visiting family and friends. In her last residence at Brookfield, she continued to enjoy the Bella Vista community and new friends and the staff of Brookfield. Suffering a broken hip, her last few days were spent at Circle of Life Hospice. Loraine was preceded in death by husbands, Arthur Thomas in 1965 and Edward Mietlicki in 2012; her parents, Charles H. and Hope E. Yount Ingels; a brother, Landon; and Ed Mietlicki Jr. She is survived by her brother, C. Richard (Jean) Ingels, San Jose, Calif.; children, David (Anita) Thomas of Stewartville, Minn., and Elizabeth Evelyn, Lakewood, N.M.; grandchildren, Rick (Karen) Sears, Sterling Park, Va., Rhonnie Lynn Jordon, Salem, W.Va., Melissa Mullen Bomango, Frederick, Md., Pamela C. Mullen, Kearneysville, W.Va., Anne (Ken) Pekoc, Corvallis, Mont., and William (Tarra) Thomas, Billings, Mont. Ed's children, Duane (Yvonne) Mietlicki, Whitesville, N.Y., Dave (Bev) Mietlicki, Keith Mietlicki, Eddy Mietlicki, Sheila (Phil) Trane, Helen R.Tickett, all of Niagara Falls, N.Y., Kathy (Peter) Pouthier, Englewood, Fla.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews survive. A memorial service led by Pastor Neil Hansen was held Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Brookfield Assisted Living, with staff, residents and local friends sharing their stories of friendship with Loraine. The family thanks the staff of Brookfield, Circle of Life Hospice, Donna VanderSchaaf and Kari Woodcock for their loving care and support. Bella Vista Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Inurnment was at the Greenwood Memory Garden, Phoenix, Ariz., next to her first husband on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Condolences are welcome at funeralmation.com. Fare Thee Well and Toodle-oo So save your tears for sad occasions Wish me well and toddle-oo Going on a long vacation I'll be waiting there for you. Loraine Thomas Mietlicki