Lorena Ruth Mayhugh

Lorena Ruth Mayhugh of Costa Mesa, California, passed away February 21, 2025 at The Baptist Home at the age of 103 years. She was born May 1, 1921 in Allen Township, in Worth County, Missouri, the daughter of the late Jesse and Oda (McClure) Savacool. Lorena’s sister Lila Stigers and brother Victor Savacool (WWII casualty in Italy) both preceded her in death. Lorena was united in marriage to George Mayhugh in 1971 and after 26 years of marriage he preceded her in death. She was also previously married in 1943 to the Reverend Carl Terwilliger who preceded her in death in 1969. She was the mother of Carl Terwilliger Mayhugh (Denise) and stepmother to Cindy, Deanna, Donna and Renee. She was Grandmother to Amber Pugh (Rick) and Candace Wells (James), as well as her great-grandsons, Aiden, Joseph and Kai. Lorena earned her bachelor’s degree in education from William Jewell in 1943. She also taught for twenty-five years in the public school system in the state of California. Afterwards, she taught English overseas for many years in both the American Samoa Islands and Bangkok, Thailand. Lorena had a fifty year career as a teacher and at one time was the oldest living missionary in Thailand (Baptist Press headline “Stubborn’ 94-year-old volunteer won’t quit”). Lorena loved telling Bible stories throughout her life to both children and adults who were learning English. When she retired teaching English in Thailand at age 96 (due to poor eyesight), she returned to Costa Mesa, California to be with her son, Carl and family, and enjoyed gardening as well as baking her delicious homemade cinnamon rolls and apple pies. Before her eyesight failed, Lorena had written an autobiography which ended with, “When God is through with me, He will call me home to be in heaven with Him and my loved ones who have gone on before me. God is so good!” A Memorial Service will be held at the Baptist Home Chapel on March 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Memorial services will also be held in Riverside, California. Lorena will be inurned with her husband, George, in Riverside National Cemetery.