The Downey Patriot

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Beverly Luther, former Downey nurse, dies at 92

DOWNEY -- Beverly Ann Luther, 92, was born on May 22, 1925 in Fort Collins Colorado to Raymond G Connors and Catherine Wich, and died May 4 in Downey surrounded by family.


Beverly moved to California and worked in the family general store in the Topanga Canyon. She graduated from Canoga Park High School and went on to pursue her nursing career through a special war time nursing program sponsored by the federal government at LA County General Hospital. 


She graduated in 1945 with a nursing diploma, making her a Registered Nurse of which she was very proud. She went on to practice nursing for nearly 50 years.


She married Forrest LaVerne Luther in 1946. She began as a county health nurse for San Luis Obispo County. They moved to Downey in 1951 and went on to have five children: Ronald Luther, Michael Luther, Colleen Wilson Ochoa, Gregory Luther and Lawrence Luther. 


Beverly worked at Gallatin Medical Group from 1959 to 1964. She took several years off to raise her family. She returned to nursing after her husband's aneurysm at LA County General Hospital from 1975 to 1985, where she worked in the Pediatric Pavilion with AIDS victims. 


She then went on to work at Downey Community Hospital from 1985 to 1992 as a charge nurse on the orthopedic floor. She went on to retire but never stopped practicing her nursing skills whether it be on family or friends. 


Beverly is survived by a sister Kathleen Freschet of San Mateo, and a cousin Vivienne Bernhardt of Loveland, Colorado; five children, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, as well as several other family members and friends.


A Rosary and viewing service will be held Thursday, May 10, from 6-8 pm at St. Marianne de Paredes Catholic Church in Pico Rivera. Funeral services are Friday, May 11, 10 am, also at St. Marianne de Paredes Catholic Church, and ending at Rose Hills Memorial Park.