Pearl Harbor survivor and Chamber of Commerce executive L. Wilson “Luke” Trahin, 89, died Wednesday, December 5, 2007.
He was the husband of the late Dorothy (Goostree) Trahin for fifty-one years. Born in Beaumont, son of the late Joseph J. and Mary Etta Trahin, he attended Lamar University and enlisted in the United States Navy, surviving the Pearl Harbor attack at Kaneohe, Hawaii, and earning a letter of commendation for his thirty-eight years of active and reserve service. Mr. Trahin graduated from South Park High School and was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
As a Chamber of Commerce leader in Texas, California, Louisiana, and Massachusetts, he conducted innovative programs in community development and was selected to serve on committees of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
An inspirational speaker, he encouraged all persons to be active citizens. He organized Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs across the country.
He leaves his daughter, Barbara Brockman and her husband James of Framingham, Massachusetts; sister, Lucille Deason of Beaumont; grandchildren, Brian Brockman and his wife Felicia of Tucson, Arizona, and Barry Brockman and his wife Jocelyn of Orange Park, Florida; great-grandchildren, Heather and Patrick Brockman of Houston; Jessica and Jeffrey Brockman of Orange Park, and Alexa and Danielle Rossi of Tucson; nephews, David Rivette and his wife Jo Anne of Beaumont, Donald Rivette and his wife Margrete of New Caney, and John McDowell and his wife Janie of Houston; nieces, Nancy Deason of Las Vegas, Nevada, Kathryn Morton of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Jacqueline Clote of Houston; and several grand-nephews and grand-nieces.
Mr. Trahin was predeceased by his sister, Fannie Mae Rivette; and his brothers, John, Walter, Jesse, and Charles Trahin; a niece, Mary Jo Reyes; and his sister-in-law, Jane Kinne.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 8, 2007 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2007 at the church. He will be honored with a military graveside service at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2007 at Houston National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706; Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group, P.O. Box 1931, Orange, Texas 77631 or Pearl Harbor Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 299401, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820-2340.
