Los Angeles resident LoRetta Marlene Malone passed on October 25, at the age of 78. Her strong will to live, her unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends sustained her through her valiant fight with cancer.
Even through some of her most difficult treatments, she strove to attend church, her sorority meetings, and community activities in her endeavor to live as normal and independent a life as she could. Through it all she believed God, ultimately saying, “It is well.”
The Omega Omega service of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will be held on Friday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m., at Ward AME Church, 1177 W. 25th St., in Los Angeles. A memorial service celebrating LoRetta’s life is set for Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. at Ward AME. Pastor John E. Cager III will deliver the eulogy.
Loretta was born on Feb. 18, 1941 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Isaiah Malone and Eva Johnson. Her parents, brother and sister all predeceased her.
A longtime member of Ward AME, LoRetta was actively involved in the scholarship committee that raised funds for youth to attend college.
LoRetta was an educator’s educator. She received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1974 and her Master’s degree in Education Administration in 1990, both from California State University – Los Angeles. She was employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District for 33 years.
During her career, she developed protocols for securing resource centers and programs catering to older adults. After retiring in 2009, she taught adult education classes and fitness classes for seniors.
In April 1997, LoRetta was initiated into the Deltas – Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter and served as an integral member of their scholarship committee.
LoRetta will be remembered for is her quick wit and unique, infectious laugh. At nearly six-feet-tall, she always carried herself with style, elegance and grace.
She loved to travel and visited London, China, France, Dubai, South Korea, and Egypt. She was also an avid tennis player who garnered several USTA trophies and attended many U.S. Open and grand slam tournaments.
Loretta enjoyed skiing as well and was a member of the Four Seasons West Ski Club and the National Brotherhood of Skiers. In her later years, she formed the Malone Steppers exercise group. Her last selfless act was to donate her body to science for future medical students to study.
LoRetta is survived by a number of aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and her goddaughter, Traci Telemaque.
