Lorraine B. Pustay – Military Spouse, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report:

Lorraine B. Pustay, known to many as “Rainy” or “Rae”, passed away as a result of a hemorrhagic stroke on February 16, 2004 at The Mayo Clinic hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. Death came without warning.

She was born on April 5, 1932 in Roebling, New Jersey. Her primary and secondary education was in the Florence Township School System. She subsequently studied art in Japan and became quite an accomplished painter working in the oil medium. Later she acquired an A.S. Degree in Psychology. She married Second Lieutenant John S. Pustay, USAF (her high school sweetheart) at the U.S.Naval Academy in June of 1954 and four wonderful children followed quickly, Tanya Marie, 1955; Melanie Ann, 1957; Jean Stephanie, 1959 and John Stephen Jr. in 1964.

Rainy was an exemplary spouse and mother and later in life, a splendid representative of our country as she lived and traveled abroad with her husband of 50 years, Lieutenant General John S. Pustay, as he achieved high level positions within the U.S. Air Force. She was sponsor of the Mississippi Ballet Association; a promoter of the Mental Health Association of Mississippi, a member of the Arlington Committee; did volunteer work with Brownie Scouting, Reston Hospital Center, Pope Paul II High School; was a counselor with the Military Family Association, and was a strong supporter and benefactor of the National Headache Foundation and the Chronic Pain Association.

She is survived by her husband, four children, noted above, five beautiful grandchildren and five loving sisters. Memorial Mass will be held at the Fort Myer Chapel (# 1 ), Arlington, VA, at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2004, followed immediately by burial at the adjacent Arlington National Cemetery.

The family, reflecting the wishes of Lorraine, suggest that people who wish to send flowers instead make donations to either the National Headache Foundation or The Chronic Pain Association. Rainy will leave a tremendous void in the lives of those who loved her so much; her greatest legacy will be her boundless love which she shared with so many of us, thus making our lives so much richer.

PUSTAY, LORRAINE B

• DATE OF BIRTH: 04/05/1932
• DATE OF DEATH: 02/16/2004
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 03/03/2004
• BURIED AT: SECTION 34  SITE 3752
• ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
• WIFE OF PUSTAY, JOHN STEPHEN LT GEN US AIR FORCE

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard