OBITUARY Lula Mae Raether April 26, 1926 – July 18, 2018 Lula Mae Raether April 26, 1926 – July 18, 2018 Lula Mae passed away July 18, 2018, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Chula Vista, California. She died of complications from aspiration pneumonia. Mom was a strong-willed person and fought until the end.
Mom was born on April 26, 1926 in the small town of Rowena in Runnels County, Texas. Her family moved later to Rockdale where she grew up. She plowed the fields and picked cotton side by side with her dad.
Lula Mae outlived her entire family of parents and siblings. She was the middle daughter of 5 sisters and one brother. Her brother Elmer was the oldest, followed by Jewel, Lovie, Helen, and baby sister Pearl.
Lula Mae and Dad, Irving Raether, met in San Antonio, Texas, at Breckenridge Park. They married on June 4, 1946, and moved to San Diego where Dad continued his service with the U.S. Navy. They then enjoyed a long wedded life of almost 70 years.
As a mother, Lula Mae was the quintessential homemaker. They had 4 children: daughter Sharon (husband Jeff), and sons Monty, Gary, and Shawn. Lula Mae and Irving also had 8 grandchildren: Rebekah, Heather, Jeremy, Stephanie, Cristen, Rachel, Garrett, and Sabrina.
They also had 4 great-grandchildren: Charlize, Ava, Alaina, and baby Weston (born April 27, the day after Mom’s 92nd birthday). Mom often said she regretted not finishing high school. However, she always had an answer to every question and could tell you a remedy (not always medically accepted) to cure your ills.
She often said that common sense was not common. Her common sense was her shining attribute. She had the ability to remember everything, even the minutest detail, up until her last days in the hospital.
She could name all of her relatives and their children and tell stories about every one, including some long gone. Mom and Dad loved traveling in their TransVan and later in their Winnebago and Chieftain. When Dad retired from the Navy and civil service, they spent much of their time visiting relatives in Texas, Missouri, and Michigan, going over those old stories and learning new ones.
One of the highpoints in her life was visiting her relatives in Texas to celebrate her 90th birthday two years ago. Lula Mae and Irving also enjoyed going to casinos, especially in Las Vegas, Stateline, and Laughlin. They loved to play the one-armed bandits as they were called.
Later they made trips to Viejas and Barona casinos due to their closer proximity. Their children made frequent trips accompanying Mom and Dad on their gambling junkets. When dad passed away in 2015, Mom sorely missed his companionship and lived the last 3 years alone.
Lula Mae was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt who loved her family and relatives dearly. She will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew her. She was a member of the greatest generation and has touched us all.
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