Aug 4, 2008
Indiana orchardist Lorne Doud dies

Lorne Doud, Wabash, Ind., a progressive orchardist who was one of the early adopters of dwarfing rootstocks and one of the founding fathers of the International Fruit Tree Association, died Aug. 1 at age 92.
Lorne was active in the apple industry. He served on the Indiana Horticultural Society executive committee from 1939 to 1953 and as president of the society in 1948-49.
He was one of the first nurserymen in America, beginning in 1940, to produce apple trees on the East Malling dwarfing rootstocks. Lorne helped found the Midwest Dwarf Fruit Tree Association; later it became the International Fruit Tree Association. He served on its board of directors from 1958 to 1976 and as president in 1964-65.
In 1977, he received the Indiana Horticultural Society Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Betty, who died in 2002, received two Hoosier Homestead Awards for having two farms in the same family for 100 years or more.
He and his wife traveled to Europe four times to study European fruit growing – mainly dwarf varieties.
“His love and enthusiasm for fruit growing were obvious for all to see, even in his later years,” said Purdue horticulturist Peter Hirst and Lorne’s son, David, in a jointly written tribute. “It seems that his passion rubbed off on those who knew him best – his sons Steven and David are fruit growers in Indiana and his daughter Diane Miller is a pomology research and Extension specialist at the Ohio State University.
“Another of Lorne’s passions was Purdue. He was active in the marching band and the glee club and graduated from the horticulture department in 1937.
He was a proud and active Purdue alumnus.
“Lorne had a profound influence on the industry he loved, and will be missed.”
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at
Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Roann Chapel, 335 S. Chippewa, Roann,
Ind. Burial will follow at Chili Cemetery, Chili, Ind. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at the funeral home.


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