Mary Elaine Lorah, of Brookville, Ohio, formerly of Dixon, was born on June 22, 1945, at Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of William Virgil and Bernadine Cecilia (Metcalf) Henning, and departed this life on Friday, April 17, 2020, at Brookhaven Retirement Community in Brookville. She had attained the age of 74 years, 9 months, and 25 days.

Mary was united in marriage on December 5, 1970, at Lehighton, Pennsylvania, to Gerald Edgar Lorah, who preceded his wife in death on April 4, 2009.

On March 28, 1977, at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mary entered into active federal service in the Army of the United States and served until May 31, 1996, when she was honorably discharged at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, at the rank of Master Sergeant E-8.
During her military career, Mary was a Hospital Food Service Specialist and had received military education for hospital food service advisor and management. She was awarded and entitled to wear the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, and numerous other awards and citations. A woman of excellent character, Mary's "Honorable Discharge" is a testimonial of honest and faithful service to her country.

Mary and Gerald settled on a little place north of Dixon for their retirement and were members of the Holy Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Brinktown. She was a member of the St. Ann's Sodality while a member there and assisted with numerous church dinners and socials. Following the death of her husband, Mary moved back to her home state of Ohio to be near her family.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mary include: Two brothers, William Henning and wife, Helen, and Joseph Henning and wife, Jean, all of Englewood, Ohio; brother-in-law, Ricky Lorah, Sr., of Dixon; nephews, Ricky Lorah, Jr. and wife, Crystal, of Dixon, and Jason Lorah of Waynesville; great-nephew, Aiden Lorah, of Dixon; and other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Gerald, she was preceded in death by her father, William, on April 9, 1981; her mother, Bernadine, on June 5, 2000; and sister-in-law, Pamela Sue (Mulvey) Lorah, on February 3, 2015.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, private interment for Mrs. Mary Elaine Lorah was held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, April 27, 2020, next to her beloved husband, Gerald, in the Holy Guardian Angels Cemetery, Brinktown, under the current CDC guidelines for public gatherings, by Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Dixon.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Mary Elaine Lorah are suggested by her family to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 97, 5657 Rosebury Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45424, or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459

Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mrs. Mary Elaine Lorah at www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com