Lora Sylvia Dugard

Lora Sylvia Steinbach Dugard passed away at Mumaw House of Woodland Park at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg, VA on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the age of 102. Her husband, Maurice "Moe" Dugard, preceded her in death on July 29, 2016. She is survived by her three children, Audrey McVean, Pat Goerlitz, and Paul Dugard; her two grandsons, Dave Dugard and Steve Dugard; her two great-granddaughters, Leila Dugard and Lora Dugard. Her brother, Heinz W. Steinbach also preceded her in death in 1988.
Lora was born May 24, 1923, to Olga and Arnold Steinbach of Vienna, Austria. At age 13, the family immigrated to Washington, D.C. She resided in the Northern Virginia area until her retirement from the federal government in the mid-1980's, at which time she and Moe moved to Fort Valley, VA. In 2000, they moved to VMRC in Harrisonburg, VA.
Lora graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington, D.C., and attended George Washington University. Lora started working at the Department of the Interior in 1959. She learned on-the-job and became a part of the new computer age learning Cobol and Fortran and retiring as a Mainframe Computer Operator. During her years in Arlington, she was actively involved with the Girl Scouts, served on the Arlington County Scouting Board and on the Committee for Camp Potomac Woods for Girl Scouts. She was leader of a Mariner Scout Troop for six years at Williamsburg Junior and Wakefield High Schools.
Lora loved her family; she was a great cook; she was never without some type of handwork – knitting, crochet, needlepoint, crewelwork, and sewing. She was a great competitor and loved all sports, a Red Cross swimming instructor, a jogger, an avid bridge player and a duckpin bowler, and shot a mean game of pool. She loved music and concerts. The family did a lot of tent camping, graduated to a small camper. Then came the fifth wheeler in their retirement and visiting Elder Hostels, friends and family.
After WWII, and through Faith Lutheran Church, Arlington, VA, young families socialized together. That group became life-long friends and once retired, morphed into the 'Crazy Bunch'. Retired and scattered they continued to gather twice a year at Nags Head, NC and Cacapon, WVA as long as they were able.
Also in her retirement, Lora helped start the Fort Valley Library. She worked tirelessly raising money for the building fund for the addition at Faith Lutheran in Fort Valley. She also started the Park Gables library at VMRC.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VMRC Compassion Fund, 1501 Virginia Avenue, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.