Lois Holt Riddell

Lois Holt Riddell, 89, died peacefully on July 26, 2013, in Wasilla.

Lois was born May 15, 1924, in Matoaca, Va., to John T. and Ethel Holt.

She married the love of her life, Roger A. Riddell, in 1942 in Camp Lee, Va. She worked for DuPont during the war years. After the war, she lived in many different places with her career-Army husband and growing family. They moved to Alaska in 1952, becoming pioneers in the Eagle River/Chugiak area.

Roger and Lois were founding members of the Chugiak United Methodist Church. The family moved to Anchorage, where Roger built a successful consulting engineering business and Lois became an active volunteer at community hospitals and a buyer of the gift shops. Lois was a lifelong member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Roger and Lois spent winters in their home in Hilton Head Island, S.C., where they were active members in their local church. After Roger’s death in 1990, Lois moved there full-time, continuing to volunteer at the church, the Bargain Box and for Hospice. Lois enjoyed traveling to many exotic places, including New Zealand, South America and Morocco. She moved back to Alaska in 2005.

Lois is survived by her daughter, Clydell Lamkin and husband David; son, Toby and wife Kay; Son, Rocky and wife Robin; and daughter, Robin Gamble and husband Bill. She had six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Lois will be remembered for her sense of style and her humanitarian efforts. She was well-loved and will be dearly missed.

A private family celebration of life is planned in the future. The family invites you to lift a glass and/or say a prayer to honor Lois at 5 p.m., Aug. 4.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Resources of Alaska, 10355 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy., Suite 110, Palmer, AK 99645 (alzaska.org) or Valley Hospice Resources 1150 S. Colony Way St. 3 PMB 349, Palmer, AK 99645 (valleyhospiceresources.com).