Lois White of Windsor, VT passed away peacefully on July 2, 2021, with her family by her side. Born on August 4, 1925, in Palmer, MA, Lois moved to Belmont when she was 2 months old and resided there during her formative years. In January of her senior year, Lois started college at Boston University (during the war years, the government wanted students who excelled in their studies to begin college before graduating) where she studied trigonometry, cartography, English and physics for one semester.
In May of 1943, Lois joined her family in Ohio where her father was stationed. Lois got a job running a TWX (teletype) machine for the Air Force that summer. In the fall, Lois attended Drake University and initially majored in math and science. She then transitioned to Fine Arts to continue studying the cello which she started playing in the fifth grade and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Music Education.
During Lois' freshman year at Drake, she started taking flying lessons, obtaining her pilot's license in May of 1944. Lois was accepted into the WASP (Women's Army Service Pilots), but the program was discontinued toward the end of WWII.
After graduation, Lois relocated back East. She obtained a job as a counselor and music director at Camp Songadeewin at Willoughby Lake. She continued in that role for the next two summers. In 1948, Lois and two Songadeewin counselors, playing their bugles, were featured on the cover of VT Life. The cover has become a magazine classic.
Through a connection made at Songadeewin, Lois was offered a job at the Brick Presbyterian Church in NYC. She assisted with the music and children's programs at the church. Lois also played in the training symphony in NYC. After a year in the city, Lois moved to Windsor, VT to take a position as the sole music educator for Windsor High School and State Street School. She taught choir, orchestra and band giving music lessons in all instruments. Lois taught in Windsor from 1948 until her retirement in the1986.
Lois met her husband Raymond, at Kelley Drug Store where Ray worked helping his aunt, Mary Kelley run the store. Through friends who acted as matchmakers, Lois and Ray became an "item". Lois and Ray married on August 7, 1950, on her family's Willoughby Lake property. While working full time in the Windsor Schools, Lois and Raymond had three children, Jeffrey, in 1953, Frederick (Ted), in 1954, and Sara, in 1958. To this day, Lois' family continues to spend summers at their Lake Willoughby property. Tragically, Lois lost her beloved husband in 1979, two days after a devastating fire on their Hunt Hill Farm in Windsor.
Lois served as the choir director at the Windsor Congregational Church and the local Unitarian Church. She played cello in the VT symphony from 1948 until the 1980's. The same symphony played two Sousa marches while Lois conducted on August 31, 1997, during the dedication of the Lois F. White Theatre.
A hallmark of Lois' life was her lasting friendships. She regularly communicated with former students and continued to receive letters from those she inspired musically. Jesse Lombard, an education colleague who taught home economics, and Ruth Ewald an active neighbor, hiking and biking pal were amongst Lois' cherished friends, as were Carol Tienken of Medford, MA, and Barbara (Bunny) Mechler of Southbury, CT. In fact, a cross-country ski trip on Hunt Road in Windsor with her friend Ruth inspired Lois and Raymond to buy the Hunt Farm property and move from their Ascutney Street home. Much of the family still resides on Hunt Road today.
When Lois retired, she was honored in the Alumni Day Parade, she was later inducted as an honorary WHS alumni. Her contributions to Windsor music education remain unrivaled. Even after retirement, Lois remained active musically. Lois began playing chamber music with Lili Paxon, Isabella Erickson, and Marion Whitcomb. The quartet performed at neighbors' homes, churches, and schools. Not only did Lois inspire music in her students, but family members as well. All of Lois' granddaughters learned the piano under her expert guidance and reminders to practice!
Lois is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Debrah Delier), Frederick (Leslie Rhoad), and Sara (Douglas Johnson), grandchildren, Kara (Mike) Commo, Benjamin (Katie) White, Heather (Corey) LeBlanc, Evelyn (Ian) Cummings, Annah (Jared) Brooks, and William White and his partner, Brendan Collins. Lois found great pleasure in her seven great grandchildren, Camden and Levi Commo, Owen and Oliver White, Grayson LeBlanc, and Henry and Nora Brooks.
The family is planning a private memorial service at Lake Willoughby.
Condolences to Lois' family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in Lois' honor and memory can be made to the "Raymond White Scholarship Fund" c/o Terry Allen, 499 Brook Rd. Windsor, VT 05089. The scholarship will be later renamed the Raymond and Lois White Scholarship Fund, for aiding the education of future Windsor High School alumni.
In May of 1943, Lois joined her family in Ohio where her father was stationed. Lois got a job running a TWX (teletype) machine for the Air Force that summer. In the fall, Lois attended Drake University and initially majored in math and science. She then transitioned to Fine Arts to continue studying the cello which she started playing in the fifth grade and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Music Education.
During Lois' freshman year at Drake, she started taking flying lessons, obtaining her pilot's license in May of 1944. Lois was accepted into the WASP (Women's Army Service Pilots), but the program was discontinued toward the end of WWII.
After graduation, Lois relocated back East. She obtained a job as a counselor and music director at Camp Songadeewin at Willoughby Lake. She continued in that role for the next two summers. In 1948, Lois and two Songadeewin counselors, playing their bugles, were featured on the cover of VT Life. The cover has become a magazine classic.
Through a connection made at Songadeewin, Lois was offered a job at the Brick Presbyterian Church in NYC. She assisted with the music and children's programs at the church. Lois also played in the training symphony in NYC. After a year in the city, Lois moved to Windsor, VT to take a position as the sole music educator for Windsor High School and State Street School. She taught choir, orchestra and band giving music lessons in all instruments. Lois taught in Windsor from 1948 until her retirement in the1986.
Lois met her husband Raymond, at Kelley Drug Store where Ray worked helping his aunt, Mary Kelley run the store. Through friends who acted as matchmakers, Lois and Ray became an "item". Lois and Ray married on August 7, 1950, on her family's Willoughby Lake property. While working full time in the Windsor Schools, Lois and Raymond had three children, Jeffrey, in 1953, Frederick (Ted), in 1954, and Sara, in 1958. To this day, Lois' family continues to spend summers at their Lake Willoughby property. Tragically, Lois lost her beloved husband in 1979, two days after a devastating fire on their Hunt Hill Farm in Windsor.
Lois served as the choir director at the Windsor Congregational Church and the local Unitarian Church. She played cello in the VT symphony from 1948 until the 1980's. The same symphony played two Sousa marches while Lois conducted on August 31, 1997, during the dedication of the Lois F. White Theatre.
A hallmark of Lois' life was her lasting friendships. She regularly communicated with former students and continued to receive letters from those she inspired musically. Jesse Lombard, an education colleague who taught home economics, and Ruth Ewald an active neighbor, hiking and biking pal were amongst Lois' cherished friends, as were Carol Tienken of Medford, MA, and Barbara (Bunny) Mechler of Southbury, CT. In fact, a cross-country ski trip on Hunt Road in Windsor with her friend Ruth inspired Lois and Raymond to buy the Hunt Farm property and move from their Ascutney Street home. Much of the family still resides on Hunt Road today.
When Lois retired, she was honored in the Alumni Day Parade, she was later inducted as an honorary WHS alumni. Her contributions to Windsor music education remain unrivaled. Even after retirement, Lois remained active musically. Lois began playing chamber music with Lili Paxon, Isabella Erickson, and Marion Whitcomb. The quartet performed at neighbors' homes, churches, and schools. Not only did Lois inspire music in her students, but family members as well. All of Lois' granddaughters learned the piano under her expert guidance and reminders to practice!
Lois is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Debrah Delier), Frederick (Leslie Rhoad), and Sara (Douglas Johnson), grandchildren, Kara (Mike) Commo, Benjamin (Katie) White, Heather (Corey) LeBlanc, Evelyn (Ian) Cummings, Annah (Jared) Brooks, and William White and his partner, Brendan Collins. Lois found great pleasure in her seven great grandchildren, Camden and Levi Commo, Owen and Oliver White, Grayson LeBlanc, and Henry and Nora Brooks.
The family is planning a private memorial service at Lake Willoughby.
Condolences to Lois' family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in Lois' honor and memory can be made to the "Raymond White Scholarship Fund" c/o Terry Allen, 499 Brook Rd. Windsor, VT 05089. The scholarship will be later renamed the Raymond and Lois White Scholarship Fund, for aiding the education of future Windsor High School alumni.
Lois White of Windsor, VT passed away peacefully on July 2, 2021, with her family by her side. Born on August 4, 1925, in Palmer, MA, Lois moved to Belmont when she was 2 months old and resided there during her formative years. In January of her senior year, Lois started college at Boston University (during the war years, the government wanted students who excelled in their studies to begin college before graduating) where she studied trigonometry, cartography, English and physics for one semester.
In May of 1943, Lois joined her family in Ohio where her father was stationed. Lois got a job running a TWX (teletype) machine for the Air Force that summer. In the fall, Lois attended Drake University and initially majored in math and science. She then transitioned to Fine Arts to continue studying the cello which she started playing in the fifth grade and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Music Education.
During Lois' freshman year at Drake, she started taking flying lessons, obtaining her pilot's license in May of 1944. Lois was accepted into the WASP (Women's Army Service Pilots), but the program was discontinued toward the end of WWII.
After graduation, Lois relocated back East. She obtained a job as a counselor and music director at Camp Songadeewin at Willoughby Lake. She continued in that role for the next two summers. In 1948, Lois and two Songadeewin counselors, playing their bugles, were featured on the cover of VT Life. The cover has become a magazine classic.
Through a connection made at Songadeewin, Lois was offered a job at the Brick Presbyterian Church in NYC. She assisted with the music and children's programs at the church. Lois also played in the training symphony in NYC. After a year in the city, Lois moved to Windsor, VT to take a position as the sole music educator for Windsor High School and State Street School. She taught choir, orchestra and band giving music lessons in all instruments. Lois taught in Windsor from 1948 until her retirement in the1986.
Lois met her husband Raymond, at Kelley Drug Store where Ray worked helping his aunt, Mary Kelley run the store. Through friends who acted as matchmakers, Lois and Ray became an "item". Lois and Ray married on August 7, 1950, on her family's Willoughby Lake property. While working full time in the Windsor Schools, Lois and Raymond had three children, Jeffrey, in 1953, Frederick (Ted), in 1954, and Sara, in 1958. To this day, Lois' family continues to spend summers at their Lake Willoughby property. Tragically, Lois lost her beloved husband in 1979, two days after a devastating fire on their Hunt Hill Farm in Windsor.
Lois served as the choir director at the Windsor Congregational Church and the local Unitarian Church. She played cello in the VT symphony from 1948 until the 1980's. The same symphony played two Sousa marches while Lois conducted on August 31, 1997, during the dedication of the Lois F. White Theatre.
A hallmark of Lois' life was her lasting friendships. She regularly communicated with former students and continued to receive letters from those she inspired musically. Jesse Lombard, an education colleague who taught home economics, and Ruth Ewald an active neighbor, hiking and biking pal were amongst Lois' cherished friends, as were Carol Tienken of Medford, MA, and Barbara (Bunny) Mechler of Southbury, CT. In fact, a cross-country ski trip on Hunt Road in Windsor with her friend Ruth inspired Lois and Raymond to buy the Hunt Farm property and move from their Ascutney Street home. Much of the family still resides on Hunt Road today.
When Lois retired, she was honored in the Alumni Day Parade, she was later inducted as an honorary WHS alumni. Her contributions to Windsor music education remain unrivaled. Even after retirement, Lois remained active musically. Lois began playing chamber music with Lili Paxon, Isabella Erickson, and Marion Whitcomb. The quartet performed at neighbors' homes, churches, and schools. Not only did Lois inspire music in her students, but family members as well. All of Lois' granddaughters learned the piano under her expert guidance and reminders to practice!
Lois is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Debrah Delier), Frederick (Leslie Rhoad), and Sara (Douglas Johnson), grandchildren, Kara (Mike) Commo, Benjamin (Katie) White, Heather (Corey) LeBlanc, Evelyn (Ian) Cummings, Annah (Jared) Brooks, and William White and his partner, Brendan Collins. Lois found great pleasure in her seven great grandchildren, Camden and Levi Commo, Owen and Oliver White, Grayson LeBlanc, and Henry and Nora Brooks.
The family is planning a private memorial service at Lake Willoughby.
Condolences to Lois' family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in Lois' honor and memory can be made to the "Raymond White Scholarship Fund" c/o Terry Allen, 499 Brook Rd. Windsor, VT 05089. The scholarship will be later renamed the Raymond and Lois White Scholarship Fund, for aiding the education of future Windsor High School alumni.
In May of 1943, Lois joined her family in Ohio where her father was stationed. Lois got a job running a TWX (teletype) machine for the Air Force that summer. In the fall, Lois attended Drake University and initially majored in math and science. She then transitioned to Fine Arts to continue studying the cello which she started playing in the fifth grade and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Music Education.
During Lois' freshman year at Drake, she started taking flying lessons, obtaining her pilot's license in May of 1944. Lois was accepted into the WASP (Women's Army Service Pilots), but the program was discontinued toward the end of WWII.
After graduation, Lois relocated back East. She obtained a job as a counselor and music director at Camp Songadeewin at Willoughby Lake. She continued in that role for the next two summers. In 1948, Lois and two Songadeewin counselors, playing their bugles, were featured on the cover of VT Life. The cover has become a magazine classic.
Through a connection made at Songadeewin, Lois was offered a job at the Brick Presbyterian Church in NYC. She assisted with the music and children's programs at the church. Lois also played in the training symphony in NYC. After a year in the city, Lois moved to Windsor, VT to take a position as the sole music educator for Windsor High School and State Street School. She taught choir, orchestra and band giving music lessons in all instruments. Lois taught in Windsor from 1948 until her retirement in the1986.
Lois met her husband Raymond, at Kelley Drug Store where Ray worked helping his aunt, Mary Kelley run the store. Through friends who acted as matchmakers, Lois and Ray became an "item". Lois and Ray married on August 7, 1950, on her family's Willoughby Lake property. While working full time in the Windsor Schools, Lois and Raymond had three children, Jeffrey, in 1953, Frederick (Ted), in 1954, and Sara, in 1958. To this day, Lois' family continues to spend summers at their Lake Willoughby property. Tragically, Lois lost her beloved husband in 1979, two days after a devastating fire on their Hunt Hill Farm in Windsor.
Lois served as the choir director at the Windsor Congregational Church and the local Unitarian Church. She played cello in the VT symphony from 1948 until the 1980's. The same symphony played two Sousa marches while Lois conducted on August 31, 1997, during the dedication of the Lois F. White Theatre.
A hallmark of Lois' life was her lasting friendships. She regularly communicated with former students and continued to receive letters from those she inspired musically. Jesse Lombard, an education colleague who taught home economics, and Ruth Ewald an active neighbor, hiking and biking pal were amongst Lois' cherished friends, as were Carol Tienken of Medford, MA, and Barbara (Bunny) Mechler of Southbury, CT. In fact, a cross-country ski trip on Hunt Road in Windsor with her friend Ruth inspired Lois and Raymond to buy the Hunt Farm property and move from their Ascutney Street home. Much of the family still resides on Hunt Road today.
When Lois retired, she was honored in the Alumni Day Parade, she was later inducted as an honorary WHS alumni. Her contributions to Windsor music education remain unrivaled. Even after retirement, Lois remained active musically. Lois began playing chamber music with Lili Paxon, Isabella Erickson, and Marion Whitcomb. The quartet performed at neighbors' homes, churches, and schools. Not only did Lois inspire music in her students, but family members as well. All of Lois' granddaughters learned the piano under her expert guidance and reminders to practice!
Lois is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Debrah Delier), Frederick (Leslie Rhoad), and Sara (Douglas Johnson), grandchildren, Kara (Mike) Commo, Benjamin (Katie) White, Heather (Corey) LeBlanc, Evelyn (Ian) Cummings, Annah (Jared) Brooks, and William White and his partner, Brendan Collins. Lois found great pleasure in her seven great grandchildren, Camden and Levi Commo, Owen and Oliver White, Grayson LeBlanc, and Henry and Nora Brooks.
The family is planning a private memorial service at Lake Willoughby.
Condolences to Lois' family may be made in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in Lois' honor and memory can be made to the "Raymond White Scholarship Fund" c/o Terry Allen, 499 Brook Rd. Windsor, VT 05089. The scholarship will be later renamed the Raymond and Lois White Scholarship Fund, for aiding the education of future Windsor High School alumni.
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