Lorentz F. "Lorn" Rawlings [Keyser]

KEYSER, W.Va. — Lorentz F. "Lorn" Rawlings, 74, of Rt. 6, Box 6628, Keyser, W.Va., died Thursday, June 14, 2007, at the WMHS-Braddock Campus, Cumberland.

Born on May 26, 1933, at Elk Garden, W.Va., he was a son of the late Leonard Maxwell and Margaret (Close) Rawlings. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Pamela Noyes, and a son-in-law, Dr. James C. Bosley.

Mr. Rawlings worked for 10 years as a mechanic with the West Virginia Department of Highways. After his employment there, he worked as a self employed auto and truck mechanic, security guard and in excavating.

Lorn Rawlings, (N8RBD) was an avid amateur radio operator who made many friends all over the world. He was a mentor, an organizer, a leader, and an advocate of amateur radio communications for public safety through the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). Lorn was the ARES/RACES Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Mineral County for a number of years. In his role as the Mineral County ARES/RACES EC, he organized local amateur radio operators to assist local law enforcement agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, fire departments and the Mineral County 911 Center in times of emergencies and disasters when their communications failed or were overloaded. In recent years, Lorn was the District Emergency Coordinator for ARES/RACES over Eastern West Virginia where he provided guidance and leadership to county amateur radio emergency coordinators, as well as fellow amateur radio operators.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Charlotte A. (Kesner) Rawlings; one son, Clay L. Rawlings and wife Michelle, of Keyser; four daughters, Debbie Sayers and husband Butch, of Keyser, Brenda Bosley, of Keyser, Donna L. Glesk and fiancé' Jamie Shartle, of Saegertown, Pa. and Misty D. Hershberger and husband Andy, of Fort Ashby, W.Va.; two brothers, Leonard "Bud" Rawlings, of Fountain Valley, Calif. and Shearn "Max" Rawlings, of Deming, N.M. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Andy Rawlings, Lorie McGee, Autumn Sayers, Evan, Shelby and Montana Glesk, Shenandoah and Seneca Sleasman, Aaron Shartle and Hannah Hershberger; one stepgranddaughter, Kayla Wolfe, and two great-grandchildren, Michaela and Kristopher.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, on Sunday, June 17, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, on Monday, June 18, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. James "Sonny" Dodds officiating.

Interment will be in the Davis Cemetery, Antioch, W.Va.

Condolences and personal reflections to the family may be left after Mr. Rawlings' obituary at www.smithfuneralhomes. net.