Loretta Malone

Loretta Malone, age 82, of Jacksonville, NC passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC. She was married to the love of her life, Paul, enjoying nearly 65 years of marriage. Born February 6, 1941, in Chester, PA, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna Marie (Reilley) Frank. Loretta was a friend to everyone she met with a smile that would light up the room. In 1959 Loretta married Paul at the age of 18, just weeks after Paul finished boot camp at Parris Island, and the adventure began! Linda came along in 1960 and Lorrie in 1963. The Marine Corps sent the Malones to Kaneohe Bay, Hi, Camp LeJeune, NC, Twenty-Nine Palms, CA, and then back to Hawaii. Besides being a wonderful mother, Loretta held various jobs; grocery clerk, school bus driver, commissary worker, and golf course starter. Loretta made life long friends everywhere she went! Loretta was also an athlete who enjoyed golfing, bowling, daily walks, and an occasional swim in the Kaneohe Officers' Club pool after happy hour! She loved reading, playing cards and racing her grandchildren. She was notorious for setting up bets for a quarter on just about anything you could think of...and often it was how many cups of coffee Paul would bring home. She was funny, generous, creative, compassionate, and to have Loretta as a friend you knew your were truly blessed. She is survived by her husband Paul of the home; daughters Linda Barnes (Bill Donaldson) of Morehead City, NC, and Lorrie Domitrovits (Lenny) of Newport, NC; sister Diana Kane of West Chester, Pa; sister-in-law Veronica Malone of Brookhaven, PA; grandchildren Travis Barnes of Austin, TX, LeAnn Domitrovits of Charlotte, NC, and Lydia Domitrovits of Greenville, NC; great-granddaughter Kaydence Barnes of Austin, TX; as well as hundreds of nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, Loretta was preceded in death by 11 siblings as well as their spouses; Marie and husband William Bennett, Alice Lillian, John and wife Isabel (Gallagher), Charles and wife Mary (Miller), Raymond and wife Marilyn (Taylor), Ruth and husband Allen Reeves, Kathleen and husband George Lynn, Sarah and husband Jack Giberson, Helen Williams, June and husband Moo O'Brien, and Alice and husband Edward Downes, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family is planning a Celebration of Loretta's Life for 2pm on 27 Apr 24 at Enon Chapel Baptist Church, 101 Barbara Ave, Midway Park, NC 28544. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Society or, if you prefer, pledge to share a smile with everyone you meet.