On October 18, 2018, Florence Norah Bain, longtime resident of Orinda, California, passed away at the age of 96. Norah Lunt grew up in Harrogate, Yorkshire, in the north of England, with her parents Stanley and Florence, and her sister Vera. In 1947 she crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary to visit her aunt Elsie Wright in Berkeley, California, where she met brothers George and Hugh Bain. George and Norah were married in Harrogate the following year, then returned to California where their son George Donald was born in San Francisco.
When George was called up in the Air Force Reserve at the beginning of the Korean War, Norah and her 2-year-old son returned to England. Her daughter Kathleen Florence was born in Harrogate. George was declared Missing in Action. Two years later Norah and her two young children returned to their home in El Cerrito.
In 1956 Norah married Hugh Paul Bain and they moved to Orinda, where various family members have lived ever since. Nora's sister Vera Neilson of Bury St Edmunds in England died in 2003. Hugh Bain died in 2007 after 51 years of happy marriage.
Norah is survived by her two children, Don Bain in El Cerrito and Kathie Bain in Orinda, daughter-in-law Nora Weldon, son-in-law Andy Norrell, grandchildren Jeffrey Kottcamp in Sacramento, Sarah and Chris Weld in Lafayette, Eric and Kristy Norrell in Nevada City, Dana and Bubb Rader in Santa Cruz, and great-grandchildren Ada Norrell, Sloane Weld, Leon Rader, and Greer Weld. Norah was also very close to her nieces and nephews in Canada and the UK: Anne and Clive Field in Qualicum Beach BC, Heather Price in Malvern UK, Jeremy and Jonathon Neilson in UK, and their children and grandchildren.
Norah taught pre-school both in England and many years later in Lafayette. In the 1970s she developed a keen interest in birding. She belonged to the Mount Diablo Audubon Society and worked as a docent at Audubon Canyon Ranch in Marin for more than 20 years. She also taught birding classes in Orinda, and led many field trips. She received the William Penn Mott Jr. Environmental Award. In the last years of her life she took up painting.
Hugh and Norah attended the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church almost from its founding, and Norah maintained the connection to the last days of her life through her friend Pastor Judy Durff.
Norah loved little children and nature. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of the following or a nonprofit organization of your choice:
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Friends of Wagner Ranch Nature Area
Audubon Canyon Ranch
A memorial service is planned at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at LOPC. For information, please inquire via email at: norahbainservice@gmail.com.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA