Lorraine Bernice Mather was born in Bloomington, IL January 28, 1914, daughter of George Wiltse and Agnes Hall Mather. She married George Dewey Valentine Sept. 16, 1935. George died Oct. 8, 1955. They had one daughter, Cherie Diane. Lorraine was a member of the Flying Valentinos, a flying trapeze act on many circuses.
She traveled with her husband, George Valentine, and their partner, Sue Pelto, as the Flying Valentinos flyinf trapeze act from 1934-1950. She began the act soon after she graduated form Bloomington High School. This was the only flying act to use female flyers at that time. She did a 2 1/2 somersault blindfolded and a triple to the net. In 1953, she and daughter, Cherie, and Sue Pelto, formed the Valentino Sisters, a double trapeze act. She retired form active circus life in 1957.
In 1939, the Flying Valentinos were honored by Billboard Magazine as the greatest outdoor flying trapeze act.
In 1947, the Valentines purchased a large barn and 8 acres on North Grove Street, in Normal, Illinois, which they used to practice their flying act.
After retiring from the circus, Lorraine sold Avon cosmetics and real estate at Balle real estate and she worked in data processing at State Farm Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois for 10 years before retiring in 1980. She was the first person to retire after the age of 65 at State Farm in Bloomington. Lorraine was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Normal, Illinois.
She traveled with her husband, George Valentine, and their partner, Sue Pelto, as the Flying Valentinos flyinf trapeze act from 1934-1950. She began the act soon after she graduated form Bloomington High School. This was the only flying act to use female flyers at that time. She did a 2 1/2 somersault blindfolded and a triple to the net. In 1953, she and daughter, Cherie, and Sue Pelto, formed the Valentino Sisters, a double trapeze act. She retired form active circus life in 1957.
In 1939, the Flying Valentinos were honored by Billboard Magazine as the greatest outdoor flying trapeze act.
In 1947, the Valentines purchased a large barn and 8 acres on North Grove Street, in Normal, Illinois, which they used to practice their flying act.
After retiring from the circus, Lorraine sold Avon cosmetics and real estate at Balle real estate and she worked in data processing at State Farm Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois for 10 years before retiring in 1980. She was the first person to retire after the age of 65 at State Farm in Bloomington. Lorraine was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Normal, Illinois.
Lorraine Bernice Mather was born in Bloomington, IL January 28, 1914, daughter of George Wiltse and Agnes Hall Mather. She married George Dewey Valentine Sept. 16, 1935. George died Oct. 8, 1955. They had one daughter, Cherie Diane. Lorraine was a member of the Flying Valentinos, a flying trapeze act on many circuses.
She traveled with her husband, George Valentine, and their partner, Sue Pelto, as the Flying Valentinos flyinf trapeze act from 1934-1950. She began the act soon after she graduated form Bloomington High School. This was the only flying act to use female flyers at that time. She did a 2 1/2 somersault blindfolded and a triple to the net. In 1953, she and daughter, Cherie, and Sue Pelto, formed the Valentino Sisters, a double trapeze act. She retired form active circus life in 1957.
In 1939, the Flying Valentinos were honored by Billboard Magazine as the greatest outdoor flying trapeze act.
In 1947, the Valentines purchased a large barn and 8 acres on North Grove Street, in Normal, Illinois, which they used to practice their flying act.
After retiring from the circus, Lorraine sold Avon cosmetics and real estate at Balle real estate and she worked in data processing at State Farm Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois for 10 years before retiring in 1980. She was the first person to retire after the age of 65 at State Farm in Bloomington. Lorraine was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Normal, Illinois.
She traveled with her husband, George Valentine, and their partner, Sue Pelto, as the Flying Valentinos flyinf trapeze act from 1934-1950. She began the act soon after she graduated form Bloomington High School. This was the only flying act to use female flyers at that time. She did a 2 1/2 somersault blindfolded and a triple to the net. In 1953, she and daughter, Cherie, and Sue Pelto, formed the Valentino Sisters, a double trapeze act. She retired form active circus life in 1957.
In 1939, the Flying Valentinos were honored by Billboard Magazine as the greatest outdoor flying trapeze act.
In 1947, the Valentines purchased a large barn and 8 acres on North Grove Street, in Normal, Illinois, which they used to practice their flying act.
After retiring from the circus, Lorraine sold Avon cosmetics and real estate at Balle real estate and she worked in data processing at State Farm Insurance Company, Bloomington, Illinois for 10 years before retiring in 1980. She was the first person to retire after the age of 65 at State Farm in Bloomington. Lorraine was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Normal, Illinois.
Inscription
A member of the Flying Valentinos flying trapeze act.
The only woman to accomplish a 2 1/2 somersault, blindfolded.
She is teaching the angels to fly, and God is her catcher.
A gentle, kind lady, to just for having been here a little while, made the world she touched, a better place.
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