Lorraine Martha Younger

On May 21, 2025, Lorraine Martha Wuthrich Younger, age 97, went to be with her heavenly Father. She was born to Arnold Albert (Bud) Wuthrich and Annie Lena Schoeneberg Wuthrich on October 28, 1927, in Crescent Community of Wharton County, Texas. 

She was baptized, confirmed, and later married at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wharton. In 1945, she graduated as valedictorian from Crescent High School and moved to San Marcos to attend Southwest Texas State Teachers College. After completing a year of coursework, she began her teaching career in Lohn, Texas, in 1946. The next year she moved to Castroville and taught there for two years while still working on her degree. While attending school in San Marcos, Lorraine met a handsome young man who could make anyone laugh. She and Billy Ray Younger were married on July 31, 1948, after he completed his tour of duty in the US Army. Lorraine received her BA in English from SWTSTC in 1950, and as a degreed teacher, she taught high school English for eight years in Schertz-Cibolo (now Samuel Clemons High School) outside of San Antonio. The couple then moved back to San Marcos where Bill became part owner of Younger Motors. Lorraine found a new teaching home with San Marcos ISD and attended classes at SWTSC to earn her Master of Arts in English and her certification in Library Science. She then continued her education at the University of Texas in Austin earning her Master of Library Science degree in 1970. She was the head librarian at the San Marcos High School Library for over 20 years where she expanded the collection as well as supervised audio-visuals and ongoing technology.

While living in San Marcos, the couple had two children, Billy Jr. and Kay. The family attended Grace Lutheran Church where Lorraine taught Sunday School and was active with the LWML Society and Bill was an elder and president of the congregation for many years. When Bill died unexpectedly at the age of 49, Lorraine moved back to Wharton to be close to her daughter and grandchildren. She lived in the family farmhouse where she grew up and enjoyed country living. Lorraine rejoined St. John’s Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, and was member of the Ladies Aid Society. She began teaching at Wharton High School in 1979. She also started teaching composition and research classes at Wharton County Junior College in 1980. Her students appreciated her vast knowledge of literature and compositional styles, but she was best known for her enforcement of grammatical skills. Her classroom was known as the place where run-on sentences went to die. Lorraine was a 65-year member of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (honorary society for key women teachers), and she retired from schoolwork in 2007 after teaching 59 years.

Lorraine appreciated the companionship of her lifelong friend John Riha, and she was dedicated in her work with the Crescent School Reunions. She loved traveling, reading, and interacting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and older sister Lucille Evans of Houston. She is survived by her children: son, Billy Younger of Houston; daughter, Kay Bollom and husband Ronnie of Wharton; brother, Arnold Wuthrich, Jr. and wife Lee of Wichita Falls; sister, Gertrude Strauss and husband Ken of Sugar Land; brother, Herbert Wuthrich and wife Eleanor of Austin; grandchildren: Derek Bollom and wife Kristy of Houma, LA; Dane Bollom and wife Naruby of Leander; Jason Younger of Temple; Kayla Kattner and husband Richard of Kingsland; 6 great-grandchildren, 20 nieces and nephews, and a multitude of extended family members, friends, and former students. Lorraine was dearly loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church Parish Hall, 614 Pecan St., Wharton, from 9:00am to 10:45am with funeral services following at 11:00am in the church. Lorraine will be cremated, and arrangements are under the auspice of Wharton Funeral Home. Interment will follow at a later date in San Marcos Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her husband.

The family wishes to express great appreciation to the many individuals at SPJST Nursing Home in Hillje who cared for Lorraine during her time there. True concern was also showed by members of the Houston Hospice who helped her transition to her eternal home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to St. John’s Lutheran Church Parish Hall Fund or the charity of your choice.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com.