Lora Rodriguez

Lora Lee (Garton) Rodriguez, 86, born August 23, 1938 in Washington DC and raised in Maryland, passed away on April 6, 2025, in Solomons, MD. Lora Lee was known for her vivacious and sociable personality. She was in the first graduating class of High Point High School in Beltsville, MD, where she met a few "broads" who would become lifelong friends. She graduated from Strayer Business College.

Lora Lee, affectionately known as Zelda to friends and family, began working at Volkswagen as an executive secretary after college. While contemplating a career change with the U.S. Foreign Service in Paris, she met and fell in love with Ernie Rodriguez, whom she married in May 1962. After buying their first house in Silver Spring, Lora Lee and Ernie started their family and Lora Lee took to parenting with verve. Early years of planning birthday parties, taking her sons to myriad activities, PTA meetings, and weekend excursions with family and friends later evolved to weekends and summer vacations with her family sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. They were active members of the Hunter Sailing Association, where Zelda assumed the unofficial role of entertainment director for raft ups and extended voyages.

While her boys were in junior high school, Lora Lee began part time work with Transfiguration Episcopal Church, a job she enjoyed until her retirement in 1993. She and Ernie moved to Punta Gorda, FL, where they expanded their sailing adventures to the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas. Lora Lee loved to travel. When she said she couldn't see the Grand Canyon by sailboat, they "land cruised" the US several times in a "Casita." They also enjoyed many trips abroad. With retirement also came grandchildren, and a new nickname was born. Grammy was thrilled to include trips to visit grandchildren on their itinerary.

She and Ernie later "retired" from retirement and moved back to her home state of Maryland so they could be closer to family and friends.

She is survived by her sons, Tony (Christine) of Macon, GA and Marc (Paige) of Huntingtown, MD; six grandchildren, Joshua, Isa, Elise (Michael), Cecelia, Cal, and Evelyn; and sisters, Marilyn Kelly (Robert) of Silver Spring, MD and Michele Wolin of Washington, DC. Lora Lee was preceded in death by her loving husband of almost 62 years, Guillermo Ernesto Rodriguez; mother, Jeannette Frances Wolin and stepfather, Morris Wolin; and father, John Bell Garton.

Lora Lee will be deeply missed by all who knew her. By example, she taught her sons to be active and engaged, respectful, and meticulous. Her colloquialisms and "cocktail time" will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.