Loretta E. Slater

Loretta Elaine (Green) (Penrod) Slater

91, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2018, at her home.  Born on October 20, 1927, in Domestic, Nottingham Township, Wells County Indiana, Loretta was the daughter of John Leland and Mildred Lucille (Stookey) Green.  Loretta attended Pennville High School in Jay County and graduated from Southside High School in Allen County, Indiana.  After High School, Loretta attended Fort Wayne Beauty College and furthered her education through Lasalle Extension University, taking courses in accounting.  Loretta started working in her family’s store at an early age.  She worked as a Master Cosmetologist and Master Beauty Culturist, an accountant at Fishman’s, a seamstress at Bea’s Bridal Shop, a clerk the U.S. Postal Service, a clerk in local government offices, and in the Optometry industry.  Loretta was a Cub Scout Den Mother and PTA member.  An accomplished seamstress and crafter, Loretta made beautiful quilts and Christmas stockings for her children and grandchildren.  Each year, everyone in the family looked forward to receiving a box of Loretta’s holiday cookies, fudge, and caramels.  The family will continue the holiday tradition of making cookies, using Loretta’s prized cookie cutters and recipe.  Loretta’s friends and children were also the beneficiaries of her delicious garden and canned goods.   She was a wicked Hearts and Scrabble player and a “Master” collector of many things.  She was the family genealogist and shared wonderful stories about her family and growing up in the Fort Wayne area.  She was an avid traveler in both the United States and abroad; loved attending live shows of her favorite entertainers and meeting celebrities - from Liberace to Alice Cooper. Loretta was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Jim Beam Bottle Collector’s Club, a Daughter of the Nile, and Daughter of the Eastern Star.     

Loretta is survived by her three sons, Steven David (Joan) Penrod, Wayne Edward (Amie) Penrod, and Lee Allen Penrod; grandchildren, Rachel (Ben) Penrod-Martin,  Krystin Dawn Penrod, Chelsey Elaine Penrod, Tammie Petry, Daniel (Samantha) Penrod, Michelle (Matthew) Brenner, Benjamin (Amanda) Penrod; great-grandchildren Azrael Penrod and Nasica Penrod, Jackson, Malachi, and Grace Brenner, and Dexter and Delilah Penrod; brother John Kenton (Gay) and Mary Inez (Joseph) Dunham.  Loretta was proceeded in death by her brother Stanley Green, sister Nazoma (Gillum) Walker, and husbands Kenneth David Penrod and William Sylvster Slater.

Memorials may be made to a breast cancer charity of your choice.   

Services to be announced

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