Obituary of Lorraine West

Lorraine (Lori) West, 76, passed away peacefully at her home on September 15, 2022, with her family by her side.

Lori was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 1945, the daughter of August L. and Mary Felt. She graduated from West Mifflin high school and earned a BS degree from Penn State, an MS degree from the University of California Santa Barbara, and an MBA degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She worked at Sandia National Laboratory until her retirement in 2009.

Lori was an expert seamstress, making dozens of Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren, and loved to travel, visiting every continent with the Penn State Alumni Association. She loved Penn State football games, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Albuquerque and volunteered many hours with the American Cancer Society.

She married her husband, Jerry, who survives, on August 30, 1986. Also surviving are three children from a previous marriage: son Richard Foust III and wife Leslie of Albuquerque; daughter Barbara Bellaire and husband Bryan of Ankeny, Iowa; and daughter Cynthia Foust of Albuquerque. In addition, Lori had seven grandchildren: Alex, Sarah, Nathaniel, Tanner, Brynne, Blythe, and Madeline; as well as two great-grandchildren: Max and Aspen. Lori was absolutely devoted to her grandchildren, taking an active interest in raising them, and converting “Nonna’s house” into a combination nursery and playground that was their favorite destination, and source of her famous chocolate chip cookies.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Felt of Robinson Township, Pennsylvania.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, on Thursday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m.