SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Norlaine Rae Gould Rankhorn–1942-2001–My half sister

Norlaine Rae Gould

Born 6 Feb 1942 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Married Lloyd E. Rankhorn on 21 Mar 1964 in Michigan

Died 30 Sep 2001, Mt. Gilead, Morrow, Ohio – age 59

We don't always have traditional obituaries in the newspapers any more.  Often times the information is written up on the website for the mortuary/funeral home. 

We had no contact with my two half sisters, Norlaine & Virginia, when I was growing up.  I always knew about them.  My Dad had married their mother Elaine Croft in 1936 and they divorced in 1948. 

In 1980 my brother decided to look up my sisters and found them.  He and Dad went back to visit. In 1981 my sister Norlaine and her daughter, came to San Diego for a visit.  That was the only time I met her.

Norlaine on the left and Virginia on the right, reunite with our Dad - 1980 at the Detroit Airport

However, we kept in touch by letter and occasional phone calls.  I had a long conversation with her just a couple of months before her death.  She grieved the loss of her son and two young grandchildren in a house fire, until the day she died.  You can read their story here The Very Sad Story of Brian Rankhorn and his two children

I’ve had no contact with any of her remaining family since her death in 2001, although I am close to my two nieces (daughters of my other half sister, Virginia).

I sure wish I had known Norlaine better through the years.  However, I will always be happy that we had what time we had.

R.I.P. Norlaine.  Your memory will always be kept alive by those who loved you.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY–The very sad story of Brian Rankhorn and his young children-25 years ago

 
This is a post about a tragedy that happened 25 years ago to my sister, Norlaine’s son, Brian, and his two young children.
 
Backstory – My Dad was married once before he married my mother.  He had two daughters during that first marriage.  I never met my half sisters until 1980.  We were all grown up and they had children of their own.  Since they lived in Detroit and Ohio and I lived in California, I only met my sisters one time.  My sisters names were Norlaine and Virginia.  Sadly, they are both deceased.
 
Norlaine was the oldest of the two sisters.  She married and had two children.  A son, Brian and a daughter (still living).  I never got to meet Brian. 
 
Brian got married and had a son, Brian Keith Rankhorn, II born 14 Oct 1985.  Then he and his wife had a daughter, Tabitha Dawn Rankhorn born 5 Jun 1987.
 
On January 4, 1990 in Mt. Gilead, Morrow, Ohio, Brian and his two young children died in a fire, in their home.  Brian Sr. was 25, Brian Jr. was 4 and Tabitha was 2. 

Here are photos of Brian Sr., Brian Jr. and Tabitha.

    
These photos are courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch

Here is the newspaper article from The Columbus Dispatch on 6 Jan 1990.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

 





























My sister Norlaine talked about this incident every time we spoke, up until her death in 2001.

There are memorials for this family on Find A Grave.  You can visit their memorials by clicking on these links:
Brian Rankhorn, Sr.    Brian Rankhorn, Jr.     Tabitha Rankhorn

I don’t know what has become of the little Brian & Tabitha’s mother.  I hope she has gone one with her life and that she is happy.

As we all know, family history is not always about happy stories.  Our ancestor’s lives were just like ours, some happy times and some very sad times.  I try to remember that as I review their stories.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY - BESSIE LINDSAY HOCKSTER
FUNERAL CARD FRIDAY - EVERETT PIERRE ROE

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

 

Copyright ©  2010-2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION