Lois Arlene Hitchcock, 91, of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, surrounded by loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, March 7, for their Jamaica Bay friends and family. A graveside service will be held in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport at a later time.
Lois was born on July 11, 1929, in Davenport, to Berthold and Anna Drechsler. She married Roy “Bud” B. Hitchcock on June 28, 1947. At the young age of 18, she started her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse. After a few years, she started teaching at Alan Shepard Elementary School in Long Grove, where she taught until 1991. After retirement, Bud and Lois moved to Fort Myers, traveled and also served as campground hosts in Colorado for many summers.
Lois was a small woman in stature, but a very strong fixture in her family. She was lovingly referred to as “Sarge.” She loved traveling, camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, reading, crossword puzzles, painting, spending time with family and was a member of Jamaica Bay Church. She loved crocheting and in recent years made lap blankets for hospice. Lois and Bud were members of a cycling club and multiple square dancing clubs in the Midwest. They were very active residents of the Jamaica Bay community and were grateful for the numerous close and lasting friendships they made.
Lois leaves behind her son, Steven of Davenport, daughter-in-law Donna of Zellwood, Fla.; grandchildren are Katherine (Jeff) Brockhaus, Deltona, Fla., Jennifer Dollar (Jim Reynolds), Loxahatchee, Fla., Stephanie (Mike) Asher, Bradenton, Fla., Brian (Kristin) Reap, Florence, Ky., Valerie (Patrick) Widmeyer, Bettendorf, Bethany (Andrew) Bair, Dixon, Angie Reyes, Davenport, and Tom (Shelly) Fritz, Davenport; there are also 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roy “Bud” Hitchcock; son, Robert Hitchcock; brother, Kenneth; sister, Phyllis Fletcher; daughter-in-law, Nancy Hitchcock; and an infant grandson, Robert.
In honor of Lois’ 44 years of teaching, donations will go to Alan Shepard Elementary School. Send donations and make checks payable to North Scott School District, 251 E. Iowa St., Eldridge, IA 52748, and note that it is for Lois Hitchcock Memorial.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907; 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be made at: www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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