TRINITY — Over the last two years in Trinity, the community has lost many valuable citizens and icons who made a difference in other people’s daily lives and who benefitted from these residents.
I am proud to say most of these beloved benefactors lived long and prosperous lives, and most will be remembered in the next 50 years through grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Such is the legend of Lanora Ainsworth, who was given a special award for her service from VFW Post 6899 in Trinity on Oct. 6 at her home on Elizabeth Street.
This award was presented for 36 years of service in the organization and for her accomplishments outside VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary Post 6899 for the entire Trinity Community, such as the Community Fair, the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department and Head Start. She was a Trinity Peninsular Chamber of Commerce member for 10 years, and provided homemade baked goods for every occasion that Trinity needed.
Lanora Ainsworth today is 94 years young, and has lived in Trinity for the past 47 years. She is very astute, healthy and in her own handwriting and words related the following biography:
“I was born in Hardeman County, 7 miles from the Oklahoma Border (Red River) on Feb. 2, 1932. I had 7 brothers and one sister. I married Charles Ainsworth on Dec. 24, 1951. When Charles retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, we moved to Trinity. I joined the VFW Auxiliary in 1990.”
Lanora’s first service to the Auxiliary was as Secretary for a short time before she was elected Treasurer in April of 1991 and served for 5 years. For several years she served as Trustee but held many elected positions for 36 years, such as vice president, junior vice president, historian and guard.
Many residents have witnessed the faithful selling of Poppies in front of various establishments in the community to raise money for the injured and disabled veterans by Lanora and her Ladies Auxiliary, but this is just the tip of her iceberg.
Lanora worked the Bingo games and operated the VFW Kitchen at one time. Her baking skills were becoming well-known and her culinary works at craft shows was a favorite, and other skills came to surface at this time.
She made Christmas stockings for the Head Start children for 19 years and hosted Christmas parties for them to receive their stockings.
Lanora owned and operated a Craft Shop for 10 years and made all of the crafts that were sold in this shop. She has a fabulous scrape book of pictures of items that were sold there.
It is unbelievable that anyone could be that talented in some many genres. Lanora’s talents include cooking, baking, embroidery, quilting, crocheting, etching glass, canning, making jewelry and painting, in addition to making Afghans, bedspreads, clothes, fringed vests, hats and shoes. She painted flowers on pillows and painted butterflies on quilts for her daughter and granddaughter.
However, Lanora says that best of all she made a lot of friends. She has spoiled many friends with her culinary talents, her generosity, her thoughtfulness and home-baked goodies, which include banana bread, peanut brittle, bonbons, divinity, apple, cherry, or blackberry pies, praline cake, pecan sandies, white chocolate-covered peanuts, jalapeno jelly, grape jelly and Texas Trash.
Lanora Ainsworth is a living legend.
