Lorman and Helen Trueblood Memorial Minute

While it is not in Quaker tradition to write a single memorial minute for two people, it seems appropriate to do so in this case.

Helen and Lorman Trueblood joined the Westport Monthly Meeting in 1974 and became active in the life of the meeting. Helen was on Ministry and Counsel, Flower and Hospitality committees and served at Market Ministries.  Lorman was the Auditor, one of our three organists, served on Property Committee and often prepared the message for our worship service.  Both of them worked on the Book Sale and were part of the study group that met on Sunday evenings at Eleanor Tripp’s home. Even after they stopped attending meeting regularly, they remained interested in the meeting activities and supported them financially

Lorman enjoyed going to the Point Church, especially for the music. His interest in study was lifelong:  he deepened his knowledge of Latin and Greek and learned Spanish, Italian an Portuguese.  Helen was active as a painter and poet.  Their garden was a source of joy which they shared with the community.  They were always gracious hosts, especially at their annual spring daffodil party to which meeting members, neighbors and friends were invited.

In later years as Helen developed Alzheimer’s disease, she found solace in Meeting for Worship.  Her quiet, joyous presence spoke to us.  During this time, Lorman worked had to cope with Helen’s illness and his own failing health.  Eventually it seemed best for Helen to be in a nursing home.  She died there on May 25, 2002 at 94 years of age.  A service in her memory was held in the Meetinghouse.  In the next months, Lorman again came to Meeting and enjoyed fellowship.  He greeted friends jovially at coffee hour.  Then, after a fall, he died on January 6, 2003.  He was 95 years old.  Friends, neighbors and family members gathered at the Trueblood home in April to enjoy the daffodils and remember Lorman.

Helen and Lorman will be fondly remembered for their love of people and their zest for life.  Helen has blessed our Meeting with her poems, especially the one about our Meetinghouse, and her painting of a little boy by the seashore graces our Community house.

Approved at the Westport Monthly for Business held on April 18, 2004.

Howard Baker-Smith
Clerk