August 24, 1927 - April 5, 2025
Loralie L. Barth, age 97, passed away at her home Saturday, April 5, 2025 with family and the attending nurse by her side. Loralie was born August 24, 1927 in Ryegate, Montana to parents Emil and Regina Neuharth. Her grandparents emigrated from Odessa, Russia in the 1850s and 1860s. German was mostly spoken at home and church during her early childhood years. She had 2 brothers and 6 sisters. Her family later moved to Menno, SD and then to Viborg, SD where she graduated from Viborg High School in 1945. In 1948, the Neuharth family moved to Salem, OR. There, she worked as a secretary for the State of Oregon’s Industrial Accident Commission. Although she loved her job, she concluded it was “now or never” to pursue her heartfelt interests--singing and music.
In 1950, she enrolled at Pasadena College, a Nazarene college which later moved its location to San Diego and is now known as Point Loma Nazarene University. At Pasadena College she studied as a voice major while working as a secretary to two deans of the college. It was there she met her beloved Boyd, also a music major and education major. Their relationship quickly blossomed and in 1952 they announced their engagement at a Youth Choir beach and hot dog party. Loralie and Boyd’s December evening wedding at the Central Nazarene Church in Pasadena was followed by a Tijuana, Mexico honeymoon and trip to Oregon visiting family and friends along the way. One fortuitous stop was a visit with two of Loralie’s uncles. The newlyweds were given a grand tour of the quaint little town and they fell in love with it. The town? Livable, loveable Lodi. Boyd’s first teaching job application was to the Lodi School District and he was hired right away upon graduating. And so, in 1955, a lifetime in Lodi began. Loralie and Boyd soon started their family of two children, Byron and Brenda, and became active members of Temple Baptist Church. Over the years, Loralie was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the choir, President of the Women’s Missionary Foundation, and director of two Christmas programs. Loralie’s love for music and song continued as a member of the Community Concert Association and its Board of Directors, as well as joining the Stockton Choral Group. A musical highlight for her was performing with the chorale on two occasions with the San Francisco Symphony.
As her children entered school, Loralie returned to studying and graduated with her degree in education and received her teaching credentials from University of the Pacific, Stockton. Her 19-year teaching career began in 1969 at Lakewood Elementary School followed by Erma B. Reese, Tokay Colony and Clairmont Elementary schools teaching 5th or 6th grade and three years of 4th grade. She loved teaching this age group and always brought music and art into the classroom. A career highlight for Loralie was taking the school choir that she directed to the State Capitol in Sacramento where the students performed patriotic songs in the Capitol rotunda. In addition to music and teaching, Loralie had an interest in politics and became an active member of and historian for the Lodi Republican Women Federated between 2005 and 2010.
During their 66 years together, Loralie and Boyd enjoyed many road trips together. Trips to Oregon, Washington, Canada and a memorable journey across the U.S. to New York and back through Nebraska with their two small children in a 1960 VW Beetle. Their 25th Anniversary took them on a Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica. There were also lots of miles traveled to share in their children’s activities. Many trips to Southern California to hear Byron sing in the Hour of Power Choir at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, as well as several of the Choir's concerts. They also enjoyed attending productions of The Glory of Christmas and The Glory of Easter in the Crystal Cathedral. Not to mention crisscrossing Northern California to watch their daughter, Brenda, play in a myriad of tennis tournaments over the years.
Loralie loved her life, her home and all the “projects” that kept her busy. She loved and valued her family, her granddaughters, the light of her eyes, and all her neighbors. She loved decorating the house for every holiday, and she loved giving to her church, charitable organizations, and family. But central to it all was her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She will surely be missed.
Loralie is survived by son Byron Barth (Shane M. Wise), daughter Brenda Ross (Michael), granddaughters Raeanne Ross and Geneva Delfs (Cameron), and step-grandsons Don Ross III, and Josh Rossini (Leah) and family.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 1:00pm at Cherokee Memorial Park, Evergreen Chapel, Hwy 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi, CA. All are welcome. There will be a reception immediately following in the Cherokee Memorial J. Charles Irwin Reception Center.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Barth family.