Rosalind K. Loring; Expert on Education

Rosalind K. Loring, a nationally recognized expert, college administrator and author on adult education, has died at the age of 78.

Loring, who was for many years an adult education executive at UCLA and then USC, died Dec. 18 of cancer in her Los Angeles home, USC officials announced this week.

A 1978 nationwide survey ranked her among the 25 people in U.S. history who had made the greatest contributions to adult education.

In 1976, Loring was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education by President Gerald Ford. She also served on a special adult education committee of UNESCO, represented the United States at the National Council of Women’s Organizations for Malaya, was a consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities and on the board of the National University Extension Assn.

She was president of the Adult Education Assn. of USA and founded and headed the Adult Educators of Greater Los Angeles.

Born in Philadelphia, Loring began working as a salesgirl when she was 16 and held many jobs during her youth. During World War II, she was married in Tulsa, Okla., where she helped set up a vocational work program in public schools.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in adult education at UCLA and later worked there in continuing education programs for veterans, women and minorities. She served as associate dean of UCLA Extension from 1973 to 1976.

Loring retired in 1984 as USC’s associate provost for extended education after serving from 1976 to 1982 as dean of the university’s College of Continuing Education.

She wrote many articles and coauthored two books, “Breakthrough: Women Into Management” and “New Life Options: The Working Woman’s Resource Book.”

Loring is survived by her husband, Murrel; a son, David, of Reno; a daughter, Sherry Loring Warren of Los Angeles; a sister, Lois Mudrick of Los Angeles, and three grandsons.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 14 at Hillside Memorial, Centinela and Sepulveda boulevards, Los Angeles.