My grandfather was orphaned in 1931 or so in louisville,Ky at St.Joes. His mothers name was Loraine Downs, no name for father. I would love to find out more about her

1930 census, the last one available, shows only one Loraine Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Not sure if this is your but thought I'd pass it along.

1930 Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky
Downs, Julius F., head, 26, 1st married at 21, Ky, Ky, Ky
Downs, Loraine, wife, 25, 1st married at 15, Ky, Ky, Ky
Downs, Edith, daughter, 10, Ky, Ky, Ky
*this must have been Loraine's 2nd marriage. Julius indicates that he was 1st married at 21 (5 years previous) and Loraine at 15 (10 years previous)

I seen that tooo but Downs was her madien name

If there's no father's name, then how do you know that Downs is her maiden name?

Hi Victoria,

It sounds like your grandfather may have been born out of wedlock and placed in an orpanage.
Was not able to your grandfather or Loraine in the 1930 census.

This may be your Loraine (below) married to a Louis T Stopinski.
Loraine may be her middle name and Elizabeth her first?


Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999
Name: Edward L Downs (your grandfather)
Date of Birth: 6 Mar 1929
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Loraine Downs
Volume Number: 024
Certificate Number: 11555

****************************

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Louis T Stopinski
Home in 1930: District 3, Jefferson, Kentucky
Age: 28
Estimated birth year: abt 1902
Birthplace: New York
Relation to Head of House: Boarder
Race: White
Household Members:
Albert C Thomas 47, Head, England
Louis T Stopinski 28, Boarder, NY
************************************

Kentucky Birth Index, 1911-1999
Name: Thomas L Stopinski
Date of Birth: 16 Apr 1932
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Loraine Downs
Volume Number: 034
Certificate Number: 16994
--------------------------------------
Name: William A Stopinski
Date of Birth: 10 Dec 1934
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Elizabeth Downs
Volume Number: 119
Certificate Number: 59136
--------------------------------------
Name: Louis Stopinski
Date of Birth: 16 Apr 1939
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Lorine Downs
Volume Number: 048
Certificate Number: 23758
-------------------------------------
Name: Mary A Stopinski
Date of Birth: 28 Sep 1941
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Lorine Downs
Volume Number: 120
Certificate Number: 59971
------------------------------------
Name: Claudia M Stopinski
Date of Birth: 1 May 1944
County: Jefferson
Mother's name: Lorine Downs
Volume Number: 059
Certificate Number: 29209

**************************************

Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000
Name: Louis T Stopinski
Death Date: 13 Mar 1965
Death Place: Jefferson
Age: 63
Residence: Jefferson
Volume: 11
Certificate: 5166
-----------------------------

Social Security Death Index
Name: Louis Stopinski
SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence: Kentucky
Born: 11 Aug 1901
Died: Mar 1965
State (Year) SSN issued: Kentucky (Before 1951)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Social Security Death Index
Name: Thomas L. Stopinski
SSN: xxx-xx-xxxx
Last Residence: 40214 Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky
Born: 16 Apr 1932
Died: 21 Dec 2004
State (Year) SSN issued: Kentucky (Before 1951)


Thomas L. Stopinski
STOPINSKI, THOMAS L., 72, of Louisville, died Tuesday, December 21, 2004, at his
home. He was a native of Louisville, a retired director of personnel for Mother's Cookies
and a Navy veteran. He is survived by his wife, the former Cheryl Litterer; three sons,
Thomas, Jason, and Nathan Stopinski; a daughter, Megan Stopinski; two brothers
Bill and Louis Stopinski; and two sisters, Mary Boehnlein and Claudia Morris. His funeral
Mass will be celebrated at noon Thursday at St. Polycarp Catholic Church, with burial in
Louisville Memorial-Gardens-West. Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. Wednesday at Owen
Funeral Home, 5317 Dixie Hwy.
Published in The Courier-Journal on 12/22/2004.
******************************************************

Was not able to find a death record for a Loraine/Elizabeth Stopinski.
All their children are still living in the Jefferson county area. You may want to try to contact one of them and see if they know anything (at least when Loraine was born & died).

This may not be her, just red herring, but you never know.

Bob

I grew up down the street from Thomas L. Stopinski. Was friends with his sons Jason and Aaron. My mom still lives in there and I am pretty sure their mother does as well.