Lois May O'Banion

Lois May O'Banion passed peacefully at home in Vancouver Washington on the morning of July 22, 2019 at 91 years of age. She was born in 1928 to a second-generation immigrant family of Welsh decent (Rolands & Deeble) who resided in the coal country of North Eastern Pennsylvania. She was the youngest daughter and last surviving member in a family of six siblings, two boys and four girls. Her life was marked as one who was naturally always seeking to do what is right. She became a registered nurse and later went into the Navy in 1950 serving as a Lieutenant Jr Grade during the Korean War as an Operating Room Nurse at a Naval Hospital in Oakland California. She trained many people in the operating room including her future husband... she out-ranked him at that time, since he was just a lowly Corpsman. He also served aboard the USS Boxer in Korea. After leaving the service Lois and Joe were married in the early 1950's, moved to Texas where she worked to support Joe as he attended school and later became a Medical Doctor focusing on Family Practice in 1960. At the suggestion of another Navy Corpsman and lifelong friend, Walt Fehliman, the family visited him in Redding California where they all moved as a family in 1966. Dr Joe had a successful medical practice there for over 25 years until 1991 when they both retired. Lois was his #1 "old school" nurse, part time office manager, but mostly served the most important role of faithful wife and mother. Lois always put family first and this was displayed in her efforts to have children. She had difficulty carrying children to full term and experienced six miscarriages. She finally decided to quit her job and stayed in bed as much as possible to help bring her only living child to full term. She also experienced two miscarriages after his birth. She knew and valued what it meant to be a loving mother. Like a mother bear she would defend her own with a vengeance, yet she would stand up for what was right even though it might cost her and her family. Lois spent many decades on-and-off taking care of ill or dying relatives, including her mother and most of her siblings. She showed remarkable hospitality to visitors and guests at their home. She was a "meat and potatoes" cook and delicious big meals were the norm. It could be said that she was sometimes stubborn, opinionated, wanting her own way... but she was loving, kind, patient, long suffering, persevering, faithful, and always had your best interests at heart. Lois was diagnosed with Severe Dementia the last several years during her move to Vancouver Washington and was laid to rest, with military honors, on Aug. 1st 2019 at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland Oregon. She is survived by her Husband of 66 years, Dr. Joe C. O'Banion Sr and only child Joe C. O'Banion Jr. She has four adult grandchildren, Colleen, Joseph, Sean, and Kevin O'Banion. Phil. 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Lois May O'Banion

April 25, 1928 - July 22, 2019