Loran Simeon Grant was born on Dec. 31, 1922 in Bakersfield, California to Loran & Ona Grant. He grew up on the family farm in Wasco, first purchased by his grandfather in 1909. His father then purchased it and farmed it until Loran and Sterling bought the land in 1948 and continued the operation. Loran attended Wasco schools and graduated from WUHS in 1940. He attended Bakersfield City College until he joined the service in 1941. Loran began a lifelong love of music in grade school. While playing trombone professionally at the La Granada Ballroom in Bakersfield he was recruited to play lead trombone in a newly forming military band at Minter Field. While there he also played with the Jive Bombers whose broadcasts were heard around the world wherever troops were stationed. In 1944 he married Merle Wasson, daughter of Maxie and Bessie Wasson. After being discharged from the Army Air Force, he chose to become a farmer, rather than to pursue a musical career, which would have taken him away from his small family too much of the time. A few years later a young evangelist came to the church to preach. Loran was leading the worship services, playing his trombone, singing and leading the choir. Two weeks later he found himself in West Virginia leading the worship services for a county wide meeting. From that time forward Dr. Joe Hale, the young evangelist, who later became General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, and Loran became a team. This team took him to most of the states of the Union and to 49 countries of the world. His wife Merle always traveled with him and many times played the piano for him and for the meetings. An abiding friendship was forged in Sri Lanka with parents of a young seminary student studying in the U.S. Their son Ajith Fernando became a frequent guest of the Grants during school holidays. He later became Dr. Ajith Fernando, the National Director of Youth For Christ in Sri Lanka, a position he held for almost 30 years. He & his wife continue visiting even to this day. His most recent book, a Commentary on Deuteronomy, was dedicated to Loran and his wife, along with 2 other couples. Loran had a very valued farming partnership with his brother Sterling until he retired in 1993. It was only because of this partnership that Loran was able to be away for a few weeks a year in his music ministries. Loran also served the community in numerous ways. He was on the Bakersfield Rescue Mission Board for 16 years, Cub Scout Master, Methodist Youth Fellowship leader for 17 years, was part of the First Baptist Church Bus Ministry and AWANA and had a large music ministry there. He also loved keeping up the church yard which he did for several years after he retired from farming. He was a faithful member of the First Methodist Church, then the First Baptist Church of Wasco, which later joined with the First Congregational Church to become Grace Community Church. He is preceded in death by his parents Loran A and Ona Grant, brother Sterling Grant, sisters Margaret Jefferson and Ona Clo Ransom. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Leona Merle (Wasson) Grant, daughter Jill Grant (Shellie & Phil Ogino, Kimberly Franks), daughter Janet Stephenson (Michael & Jodi Stephenson, Leslie & Cory Banta, Denise & Chad Dessert, & Matthew Stephenson), son Loran D. Grant & Jan (Wesley & Charlotte Grant, Michelle & Oscar Sandoval, Beth & Dave Buck), son Ray (Thomas Grant, Kathleen Mufti, Kishna Grant), great grandchildren Mackenzie, Chance, Joshuah, Tucker, Rylee, Madison, Jacob, Harmony, Sabastian & Elijah, Dawson, Jerett, Lexi & Anna, brother Lynn & Joyce Grant, brother -in-law James Wasson, plus many nieces and nephews and very special friends. A special thank you to his long-time good friend Sidney Toliver. Thank you also to Around the Clock employees, especially Phyllis Peters and Claudia Sandoval, RNs Ann Martin and Linda Tiner Jones and Odyssey Hospice. With their help Loran was able to be home with family and friends. Donations may be made to Grace Community Church for a memorial fund that will be distributed to Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka and Bakersfield Rescue Mission. A graveside funeral service will be held Saturday, October 6 at 10am at Wasco Memorial Park for Loran S. Grant, age 89, who passed away Sept 28, 2012 at his home in Wasco. A memorial service will follow at 11am at Grace Community Church, 1544 7th St., Wasco. Visitation will be held Friday, October 5 from 4pm to 8pm at Peters Funeral Home, Wasco.