Lorraine Quillen Rich, top-notch athlete

Lorraine Quillen Rich, 78, died in her home in Wilmington, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.

She was the daughter of Harry and Emelia Quillen of Rehoboth Beach. She graduated from Rehoboth High School, class of 1952, where she served as class treasurer for all four years. Lorraine will be remembered as an outstanding athlete in all sports. She was a forward on the Rehoboth High School girls basketball team that had a two-year record of being undefeated from 1949-51. In 1952 the entire team was struggling with the flu and lost the next to last game by one point. They came back to win the final game of their high school career. Lorraine was the leading scorer in most of these games. At the end of the 1951 season, the team was honored by a gift from Walsmith’s Variety Store of a silver basketball with a raised blue letter R on a neck chain. Lorraine also excelled in softball, field hockey and track and field. She played the co-lead in both the junior and senior class plays.

Following high school, Lorraine entered nurses training at the Delaware Hospital in Wilmington. On June 16, 1956, Lorraine married Warren W. Rich, a chemical engineer with Hercules. They were married 53 years before he passed away March 31, 2009.

Survivors include a son Dr. Warren M. Rich (Miriam) of Hempstead, N.C.; daughter Brenda L. Leeper (Michael) of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and 10 grandchildren. Two golden retrievers rounded out her family.

Lorraine was an active member of Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir. For many years she was a Bible study fellowship discussion leader. She was an avid golfer, bowler and sailor. She received a lot of satisfaction from maintaining her yard. She was a volunteer nurse with the Red Cross.

Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 1.

Memorial donations may be sent to Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church, 800 Piner Road, Wilmington, NC 28409.