Alfred J. De Lorimier

Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville announces memorial services for Lt. Col. Alfred Jean de Lorimier (USA,RET.), age 93, of Blairsville, Georgia, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Union County Nursing Home. He was born October 1, 1920 in Fort Huachuca, AZ to the late Col. Alfred Joseph and Patricia Shananhan de Lorimier. He had lived in Blairsville since 2004. He retired from the U.S. Army but also served as a Marine in the South Pacific during WWII. He fought on Iwo Jima, Guam and Bougainville. Following WWII, he married his wife, Marjorie and went to college at the University of Illinois on the G.I. Bill, where he received a degree in Industrial Design. After graduation, he went into the regular Army as a second lieutenant and served almost 25 years. His years in the Army included serving during the Korean War and Vietnam War. His total years of service, including the Marine Corps, was almost 29 years. During his career, he received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained on Iwo Jima, as well as other service decorations, including several Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal, American Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and many others. Col. de Lorimier also taught military topography and graphics at West Point for two years. Following military retirement, he taught at Mid-Florida Tech in Orlando for 10 years. He and Marjorie lived in Orlando for 21 years, then moved to Tallahassee to be near one of their daughters. After eleven years there, they moved to the beautiful mountains of north Georgia to be near both of their daughters. "Col. Dee" loved life and had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved to recount stories of his life and experiences in the military. He was especially interested in and was very knowledgeable in history and had a very special place in his heart for horses. He was quite the equestrian and enjoyed a good high jump or a long ride on the trails. Also important to note was his great devotion to the Marine Corps - once a Marine, always a Marine! He was a wonderful man and we will all miss him greatly!

Surviving Lt. Col de Lorimier are his beloved wife Marjorie, with whom he had been married for 68 years, daughter Carol Gay and son-in-law Barry and their son Tanner, of Blairsville, daughter Diane Fraser of Blue Ridge, her children, Kellie Culbertson, Michael Schmalzriedt (and wife Patricia Schmalzriedt) and Skye Fraser, and great grandchildren Brian and Conner Schmalzriedt and Glen Marple.

Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at Cochran Funeral Home.

Memorial Donations may be made to: The Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or 3343 Peachtree Rd., NE #M20, Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville. Please share your condolences with this family on our website, www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.