Adele Torian

Adele Mittry Torian
Evansville, IN
October 19, 1920 - September 22, 2013
Our beloved Adele Torian passed away peacefully Sunday morning in her Evansville home. She was the widow of the late Paul Tewksbury Torian.
Adele's father, Saheed K. Mittry and mother Evelyn Mureau were both born in El Shweir a small town in the hills overlooking Beirut in what is now known as Lebanon. They were married in Sturgis, SD in 1917.
Their daughter, Adele, was born October 19, 1920 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was the third of five children: Norma, Kal, Adele, Elmise and Ameen.
Evelyn Mittry became a widow at 37 when Adele was in high school and her youngest was in First Grade. Strong willed, Evelyn became successful in southern California real estate. Adele took much of her strength and pluck from her mother. Adele grew up in Los Angeles and was a good athlete. She enjoyed playing baseball with the boys and attended Hollywood High School.
Life had its thrills for Adele. She dated William Holden, took flying lessons, and was selected Queen of the 1936 California-Pacific Mahrajan (Lebanese Heritage Festival) in Los Angeles "by five judges as the best looking, charming and graceful of more than a score of entries", read the local newspaper. Adele also spent many wonderful summers of her youth with family and friends at southern California's Lake Arrowhead.
Adele met Marine Major Paul Torian on a blind date and they were married October 9, 1946 in Los Angeles. They returned to Paul's hometown where he joined the family insurance business, now Torian, Hofmann, Dillow & Flittner. The Korean War took the couple back to San Diego's Marine Corp Recruit Depot where Paul was second in command. Adele and Paul enjoyed several years in San Diego and the many friends they made there. After the war they returned to Evansville where they remained full time until Paul's retirement.
Adele and Paul raised their four daughters in Evansville. Adele valued her circle of wonderful and caring friends. She was an avid and accomplished golfer at Evansville Country Club where she was accused of playing eight days a week! She enjoyed competing in the Indiana Sate Golf Tournament during the 1970's and 80's. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and the Evansville Junior League. Adele volunteered at the Quonset Hut in the early days of Evansville's Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.
During the late 1980's and through the early 2000's Adele and Paul made their winter home in Palm Desert, California where they enjoyed the camaraderie of friends and family, and continued to pursue their passion for golf.
In 1995, at age 74 and still showing her mettle, Adele resisted and put flight to an armed, purse-snatching robber. The thief was later arrested and prosecuted.
Sisters Norma and Elmise, and brother Kal preceded Adele in death, as well as her husband, Paul who passed in 2004. She loved and deeply influenced her four daughters Kate Mittry, Gayle Meyer (Bob), Anne Ewing (Dave) and Laura Torian who survive her, as well as eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and her brother Ameen Mittry.
The family wishes to extend gratitude for the years of tender loving care given to Adele by several special VNA Plus caregivers and from her terrific "fifth daughter", Martha Holder.
A celebration of life will take place at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that condolences be made in the form of a donation in her name to the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, 3701 Bellemeade Ave., Evansville, IN 47714 or online at www.in-sw.easterseals.com, or St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 301 S. E. First St., Evansville 47713.
Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com.