Annette Jean Loring

Annette Jean Loring, 63, of Bloomington, passed away on August 15, 2026. She was born on November 26, 1962, in Terre Haute, IN, to Darrell and Betty Hust. She spent the majority of her childhood and adolescent years in Evansville, IN, and Henderson, KY, graduating from Henderson County High School in 1980. Annette and Lin Loring were married August 6, 2020, in Bloomington, IN, where she lived since 1995. She is survived by her husband, Lin Loring, her parents, Betty and Darrell Hust, Bloomington, her children, Tori Champion (Ziggy Skalar), Rhode Island, and Colin Champion (Meagan Champion), Bloomington, her stepdaughters, Taylor Loring, South Carolina, and Maggie Loring, Bloomington, and her first husband, Jim Champion, Bloomington. Annette and Jim were married on November 28, 1992 in Henderson. All of her family will carry on her spirit of generosity and kindheartedness. Annette earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University, graduating with her master’s degree in 1996. She gave birth to two children, Tori and Colin Champion, during her years as a graduate student, and dedicated the entirety of her career to IU. Following a period of research in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, in 2002 she began supervising graduate students in speech pathology. In her roles first as Clinical Supervisor and then as Clinical Assistant Professor, her area of expertise was children’s speech and language development. She continued to pursue research, particularly in the study of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and presented at major conferences in her field. She was beloved by her graduate students and clients for her nurturing and compassionate personality. Annette spent her final few years working at the Campus Children’s Center caring for preschool students. She adored the children and staff. Annette loved to travel. As her kids grew up the family took trips across the United States. They hold treasured memories of time spent in Chicago, California, and Mackinac Island, MI, amongst many others. While her daughter Tori studied abroad and then subsequently completed a PhD at the University of St Andrews, Annette traveled extensively through France and the United Kingdom. They discovered favorite places in Aix-en-Provence, Bath, and Cornwall. Once her husband Lin retired from a 40-year coaching career at IU, they enjoyed cruises to Alaska, in the Mediterranean, around Norway, and on the Danube. Their trips included stops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, and London. Annette was so proud of her son Colin and daughter-in-law Meagan’s transformative work as managers of Bloomington Valley Nursery. She was devoted to animals of all kinds and volunteered at the Indianapolis Zoo in the orangutan enclosure. She was also an all-weather, enthusiastic supporter of IU sports, particularly basketball and football. From seeing the Bay City Rollers perform at the Indiana State Fair in the 1970s to Sir Paul McCartney live in Brooklyn, NY, she was never far away from the greatest music ever produced. Her favorite Beatles song was “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” A Celebration of Life, attended by her family and many beloved friends, was held earlier this month. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Indiana Exchange Club Speech and Hearing Fund for Camp Connections in Annette Loring’s memory. https://give.myiu.org/iu-bloomington/I380008761.html

Annette Jean Loring

November 26, 1962 - August 15, 2026