From Missouri farm Girl to Hollywood Loretta's life is a truly interesting .
On a cold day in early December 1909 the country midwife was summoned to a little western Missouri farm called the Twin Maples. There was a third child to be born to the Fred and Estella Cox family. As it turned out it was a beautiful little girl. It was decided to name the new arrival Loretta Pauline. Thus began the remarkable saga of our subject. Even as a child it was realized this little girl was a stunning beauty and exceptionally bright person with a magnetic personality. Loretta first attended a small country school known as Red Top about 3 miles north of her home by a little town called Worland, MO. As she reached the age of about 13 it was decided she should attend High School in Pleasanton, a near by Kansas town. It was discovered she showed a remarkable talent for business as did her sister, Leona. So, upon graduating it was decided to move the family to Springfield, MO For a time so the girls could attended business school and the boys vocational school. As she had in the past Lori did remarkable well. Soon after graduating business school and returning to the farm Lori decided to move to Kansas City MO to obtain employment. She soon obtained a position as a typist in a mail order house.
While working in Kansas City, Lori meet a young musician named Charles Torres. Soon Lori and Charlie married. Charlie and his brother were at the time music directors at KCMO, a local radio station playing Spanish music. Lori soon began singing and dancing with the band. They began traveling and making appearances. Along the way Lori entered a beauty pageant and won a trip to Los Angles California to try out as a model. Some where along about this time Lori and Charlie decided their marriage was not meant to be and they divorced. Lori landed a job in a firm modeling bras. It was not long until the owner recognized that Lori had business ability and she started as his Executive Sectary. In just a little time Lori was managing the entire firm. The firm soon became one of Hollywood's finest. As can be imagined Lori met and become friends with many famous personality's including Liberace, the famous American pianist and vocalist; Lawrence Welk; and many others. Lori became very accomplished as a ball room dancer and appeared on the Lawrence Welk show at times. Lori met and married Kenneth L. Dean, a makeup artiest for Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and this marriage too ended in divorce . As Lori's career was taking off ,unfortunately her personal life was suffering. Once more Lori met married, a set director named Robert Lee Koonter. This marriage turned sour and unfortunately Lori found it necessary to return to her parents farm for a summer to remove herself from the situation. However Randolph followed Her out to Missouri. The situation escalated and Lori returned to California and ended the marriage.
It is unclear how many marriages took place until 1962 when Lori met the love of her life, Lester Wilson, a Construction Company owner in California. It seems Lester was very good at construction but not so much at managing the business. In fact it very nearly failed until Lori took over the management and it became one of the largest construction companies in California. Upon retiring Lori and Less moved to Laguna Hills and took many ocean cruises. On these cruises they performed ball room dancing and they also performed in Laguna Hills winning many awards.
Lori, in all her marriages, had no children but she considered all her nieces and nephews as her children keeping track of them and holding precious their photos and letters. Les and Lori made many trips back to her parents' farm and also owned a summer home in Mountain View, Arkansas. They enjoyed playing in the stock market. And Lori enjoyed oil painting. Lori's many years with Les were very happy and fulfilled. Lori Passed away from bone cancer on January 23,1992 and is buried in Orange County, California at Cypress Garden Cemetery in the Sanctuary of Compassion,vault 6754, beside Lester.
This story was written by a nephew of Lori who is not a very good writer, but felt he needed to tell it.
Marriage record
Name: Lester M Wilson
Spouse: Loretta P Koonter
Marriage Date: 12 May 1962
Recorded county: Clark
Recorded county: Clark
Page: K12
Nevada
Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005 Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005
Name: Robert Lee Koonter
Spouse: Loretta P Dean
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1958
Recorded County: Clark
Page: K13
I may have the wrong Dean as Her Husband as I ruled out the record I was going By.
Loretta & Les's cript is above and to the left of singer Karen Carpenders cript .
Loretta had no children.
Photos copyrighted please do not use photos with out permission.
On a cold day in early December 1909 the country midwife was summoned to a little western Missouri farm called the Twin Maples. There was a third child to be born to the Fred and Estella Cox family. As it turned out it was a beautiful little girl. It was decided to name the new arrival Loretta Pauline. Thus began the remarkable saga of our subject. Even as a child it was realized this little girl was a stunning beauty and exceptionally bright person with a magnetic personality. Loretta first attended a small country school known as Red Top about 3 miles north of her home by a little town called Worland, MO. As she reached the age of about 13 it was decided she should attend High School in Pleasanton, a near by Kansas town. It was discovered she showed a remarkable talent for business as did her sister, Leona. So, upon graduating it was decided to move the family to Springfield, MO For a time so the girls could attended business school and the boys vocational school. As she had in the past Lori did remarkable well. Soon after graduating business school and returning to the farm Lori decided to move to Kansas City MO to obtain employment. She soon obtained a position as a typist in a mail order house.
While working in Kansas City, Lori meet a young musician named Charles Torres. Soon Lori and Charlie married. Charlie and his brother were at the time music directors at KCMO, a local radio station playing Spanish music. Lori soon began singing and dancing with the band. They began traveling and making appearances. Along the way Lori entered a beauty pageant and won a trip to Los Angles California to try out as a model. Some where along about this time Lori and Charlie decided their marriage was not meant to be and they divorced. Lori landed a job in a firm modeling bras. It was not long until the owner recognized that Lori had business ability and she started as his Executive Sectary. In just a little time Lori was managing the entire firm. The firm soon became one of Hollywood's finest. As can be imagined Lori met and become friends with many famous personality's including Liberace, the famous American pianist and vocalist; Lawrence Welk; and many others. Lori became very accomplished as a ball room dancer and appeared on the Lawrence Welk show at times. Lori met and married Kenneth L. Dean, a makeup artiest for Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and this marriage too ended in divorce . As Lori's career was taking off ,unfortunately her personal life was suffering. Once more Lori met married, a set director named Robert Lee Koonter. This marriage turned sour and unfortunately Lori found it necessary to return to her parents farm for a summer to remove herself from the situation. However Randolph followed Her out to Missouri. The situation escalated and Lori returned to California and ended the marriage.
It is unclear how many marriages took place until 1962 when Lori met the love of her life, Lester Wilson, a Construction Company owner in California. It seems Lester was very good at construction but not so much at managing the business. In fact it very nearly failed until Lori took over the management and it became one of the largest construction companies in California. Upon retiring Lori and Less moved to Laguna Hills and took many ocean cruises. On these cruises they performed ball room dancing and they also performed in Laguna Hills winning many awards.
Lori, in all her marriages, had no children but she considered all her nieces and nephews as her children keeping track of them and holding precious their photos and letters. Les and Lori made many trips back to her parents' farm and also owned a summer home in Mountain View, Arkansas. They enjoyed playing in the stock market. And Lori enjoyed oil painting. Lori's many years with Les were very happy and fulfilled. Lori Passed away from bone cancer on January 23,1992 and is buried in Orange County, California at Cypress Garden Cemetery in the Sanctuary of Compassion,vault 6754, beside Lester.
This story was written by a nephew of Lori who is not a very good writer, but felt he needed to tell it.
Marriage record
Name: Lester M Wilson
Spouse: Loretta P Koonter
Marriage Date: 12 May 1962
Recorded county: Clark
Recorded county: Clark
Page: K12
Nevada
Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005 Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005
Name: Robert Lee Koonter
Spouse: Loretta P Dean
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1958
Recorded County: Clark
Page: K13
I may have the wrong Dean as Her Husband as I ruled out the record I was going By.
Loretta & Les's cript is above and to the left of singer Karen Carpenders cript .
Loretta had no children.
Photos copyrighted please do not use photos with out permission.
From Missouri farm Girl to Hollywood Loretta's life is a truly interesting .
On a cold day in early December 1909 the country midwife was summoned to a little western Missouri farm called the Twin Maples. There was a third child to be born to the Fred and Estella Cox family. As it turned out it was a beautiful little girl. It was decided to name the new arrival Loretta Pauline. Thus began the remarkable saga of our subject. Even as a child it was realized this little girl was a stunning beauty and exceptionally bright person with a magnetic personality. Loretta first attended a small country school known as Red Top about 3 miles north of her home by a little town called Worland, MO. As she reached the age of about 13 it was decided she should attend High School in Pleasanton, a near by Kansas town. It was discovered she showed a remarkable talent for business as did her sister, Leona. So, upon graduating it was decided to move the family to Springfield, MO For a time so the girls could attended business school and the boys vocational school. As she had in the past Lori did remarkable well. Soon after graduating business school and returning to the farm Lori decided to move to Kansas City MO to obtain employment. She soon obtained a position as a typist in a mail order house.
While working in Kansas City, Lori meet a young musician named Charles Torres. Soon Lori and Charlie married. Charlie and his brother were at the time music directors at KCMO, a local radio station playing Spanish music. Lori soon began singing and dancing with the band. They began traveling and making appearances. Along the way Lori entered a beauty pageant and won a trip to Los Angles California to try out as a model. Some where along about this time Lori and Charlie decided their marriage was not meant to be and they divorced. Lori landed a job in a firm modeling bras. It was not long until the owner recognized that Lori had business ability and she started as his Executive Sectary. In just a little time Lori was managing the entire firm. The firm soon became one of Hollywood's finest. As can be imagined Lori met and become friends with many famous personality's including Liberace, the famous American pianist and vocalist; Lawrence Welk; and many others. Lori became very accomplished as a ball room dancer and appeared on the Lawrence Welk show at times. Lori met and married Kenneth L. Dean, a makeup artiest for Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and this marriage too ended in divorce . As Lori's career was taking off ,unfortunately her personal life was suffering. Once more Lori met married, a set director named Robert Lee Koonter. This marriage turned sour and unfortunately Lori found it necessary to return to her parents farm for a summer to remove herself from the situation. However Randolph followed Her out to Missouri. The situation escalated and Lori returned to California and ended the marriage.
It is unclear how many marriages took place until 1962 when Lori met the love of her life, Lester Wilson, a Construction Company owner in California. It seems Lester was very good at construction but not so much at managing the business. In fact it very nearly failed until Lori took over the management and it became one of the largest construction companies in California. Upon retiring Lori and Less moved to Laguna Hills and took many ocean cruises. On these cruises they performed ball room dancing and they also performed in Laguna Hills winning many awards.
Lori, in all her marriages, had no children but she considered all her nieces and nephews as her children keeping track of them and holding precious their photos and letters. Les and Lori made many trips back to her parents' farm and also owned a summer home in Mountain View, Arkansas. They enjoyed playing in the stock market. And Lori enjoyed oil painting. Lori's many years with Les were very happy and fulfilled. Lori Passed away from bone cancer on January 23,1992 and is buried in Orange County, California at Cypress Garden Cemetery in the Sanctuary of Compassion,vault 6754, beside Lester.
This story was written by a nephew of Lori who is not a very good writer, but felt he needed to tell it.
Marriage record
Name: Lester M Wilson
Spouse: Loretta P Koonter
Marriage Date: 12 May 1962
Recorded county: Clark
Recorded county: Clark
Page: K12
Nevada
Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005 Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005
Name: Robert Lee Koonter
Spouse: Loretta P Dean
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1958
Recorded County: Clark
Page: K13
I may have the wrong Dean as Her Husband as I ruled out the record I was going By.
Loretta & Les's cript is above and to the left of singer Karen Carpenders cript .
Loretta had no children.
Photos copyrighted please do not use photos with out permission.
On a cold day in early December 1909 the country midwife was summoned to a little western Missouri farm called the Twin Maples. There was a third child to be born to the Fred and Estella Cox family. As it turned out it was a beautiful little girl. It was decided to name the new arrival Loretta Pauline. Thus began the remarkable saga of our subject. Even as a child it was realized this little girl was a stunning beauty and exceptionally bright person with a magnetic personality. Loretta first attended a small country school known as Red Top about 3 miles north of her home by a little town called Worland, MO. As she reached the age of about 13 it was decided she should attend High School in Pleasanton, a near by Kansas town. It was discovered she showed a remarkable talent for business as did her sister, Leona. So, upon graduating it was decided to move the family to Springfield, MO For a time so the girls could attended business school and the boys vocational school. As she had in the past Lori did remarkable well. Soon after graduating business school and returning to the farm Lori decided to move to Kansas City MO to obtain employment. She soon obtained a position as a typist in a mail order house.
While working in Kansas City, Lori meet a young musician named Charles Torres. Soon Lori and Charlie married. Charlie and his brother were at the time music directors at KCMO, a local radio station playing Spanish music. Lori soon began singing and dancing with the band. They began traveling and making appearances. Along the way Lori entered a beauty pageant and won a trip to Los Angles California to try out as a model. Some where along about this time Lori and Charlie decided their marriage was not meant to be and they divorced. Lori landed a job in a firm modeling bras. It was not long until the owner recognized that Lori had business ability and she started as his Executive Sectary. In just a little time Lori was managing the entire firm. The firm soon became one of Hollywood's finest. As can be imagined Lori met and become friends with many famous personality's including Liberace, the famous American pianist and vocalist; Lawrence Welk; and many others. Lori became very accomplished as a ball room dancer and appeared on the Lawrence Welk show at times. Lori met and married Kenneth L. Dean, a makeup artiest for Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) and this marriage too ended in divorce . As Lori's career was taking off ,unfortunately her personal life was suffering. Once more Lori met married, a set director named Robert Lee Koonter. This marriage turned sour and unfortunately Lori found it necessary to return to her parents farm for a summer to remove herself from the situation. However Randolph followed Her out to Missouri. The situation escalated and Lori returned to California and ended the marriage.
It is unclear how many marriages took place until 1962 when Lori met the love of her life, Lester Wilson, a Construction Company owner in California. It seems Lester was very good at construction but not so much at managing the business. In fact it very nearly failed until Lori took over the management and it became one of the largest construction companies in California. Upon retiring Lori and Less moved to Laguna Hills and took many ocean cruises. On these cruises they performed ball room dancing and they also performed in Laguna Hills winning many awards.
Lori, in all her marriages, had no children but she considered all her nieces and nephews as her children keeping track of them and holding precious their photos and letters. Les and Lori made many trips back to her parents' farm and also owned a summer home in Mountain View, Arkansas. They enjoyed playing in the stock market. And Lori enjoyed oil painting. Lori's many years with Les were very happy and fulfilled. Lori Passed away from bone cancer on January 23,1992 and is buried in Orange County, California at Cypress Garden Cemetery in the Sanctuary of Compassion,vault 6754, beside Lester.
This story was written by a nephew of Lori who is not a very good writer, but felt he needed to tell it.
Marriage record
Name: Lester M Wilson
Spouse: Loretta P Koonter
Marriage Date: 12 May 1962
Recorded county: Clark
Recorded county: Clark
Page: K12
Nevada
Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005 Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005
Name: Robert Lee Koonter
Spouse: Loretta P Dean
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1958
Recorded County: Clark
Page: K13
I may have the wrong Dean as Her Husband as I ruled out the record I was going By.
Loretta & Les's cript is above and to the left of singer Karen Carpenders cript .
Loretta had no children.
Photos copyrighted please do not use photos with out permission.
Inscription
Loretta P Wilson
1909-1992
Beloved Wife and Sister
Sweethearts Always
Gravesite Details
Lori is above and to the left of singer Karen Anne Carpenter, although I been told Karen has been moved.
