Lois Ward

“Lois was the best friend of anyone who ever met her” Lois Oleeta Tolbert Ward, 87, returned to her heavenly home on September 13, 2018 after a brave battle with several illnesses. Lois’ personal devotion to God and her love of family and friends supported her and gave her peace. “I love you all, and I’m not afraid” were some of her last words. Her favorite scripture from Proverbs 3: 5-6 encourages all to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Lois was born to the late Edgar and Claudia Williams Tolbert, on September 26, 1930. Raised on a farm in the Oak Hill community of Caldwell County, Lois was surrounded by a loving Christian family that provided her the foundational beliefs that sustained her throughout her life. Lois graduated top of her class at Oak Hill High School in 1948. She met and married her husband, Charles Ward of Morganton, and the two embarked on a 56-year-long adventure, traveling from various places in North Carolina, on to Florida and back. Throughout their travels the two had many careers in different businesses. Lois supported Charles’ dream to become a teacher, and soon after, fulfilled her lifelong desire to become a Kindergarten teacher assistant at Whitnel Elementary School. She was an educator at heart and spent her life teaching no matter what position she held. The most enduring things about Lois for anyone who knew her is her steadfast faith in God, her support of family and her courage in the face of adversity. In her later years she taught Sunday School at Poovey’s Chapel Baptist Church in Hudson, where she and Charles were members. At 80+ years of age she created a Facebook account and taught herself to type “because I want to stay in touch with my grandchildren.” She had just finished her 257-page book, “A Walk From the Farm: Four-score and seven years of memories from western North Carolina to Florida and back” which chronicles her life and adventures. Lois managed her Parkinson’s Disease for years by carefully monitoring and administering the required medications. Doctors were amazed at her health even as the disease progressed. Lois is preceeded in death by her husband, Charles; her mother and father, Claudia and Ed Tolbert; son-in-law Joseph Heruska; sisters Effie, Martha Rae; brothers Glenn, Leonard Tolbert of Hickory, (Marie, Nelle, Virginia), Maynard Tolbert of Lenoir, Gene Tolbert of Charlottes (Judy), Paul Tolbert of Hickory (Mary Oileen). She is survived by her brother Allen Tolbert and his wife, Willa Coffey Tolbert, of Charlotte, and her best friend and sister-in-law, Sadie Kirby Tolbert of Lenoir. Lois is also survived by her loving family who continue to reap the blessings of the many ways Lois taught them to love, to serve and care for others. Her selflessness extends to those less fortunate as proceeds from her book go to fund a scholarship for a female Caldwell County Oak Hill Elementary School graduate planning to attend Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Lois’ loving family includes daughters Gail Ward Wright, Andrea Ward Heruska, Denise Ward Sinco (Russell) and Claudia Ward- Eller (Richard). Grandchildren include Richard “Rik” Heruska (Graceland), Russell John Sinco (Tara), Christy Heruska Warner (Jeff), Michael Sinco (Tori,) Holly Sinco, Jeni Sinco Goldsmith (Nate), Theodore (Ted) Eller (Liz), Marie Sinco Warren (Clinton), Suzanne Eller Mayo (Jeff), David Sinco and Jonathan Sinco. Great-grandchildren include Bo, Savannah, Madeline, Katherine, Caitlin, Fiona, Xavier, Grayson, Vivian, Ian, Piper, and Alice. Receiving for Lois will be held at Evans Funeral Service and Crematory Friday, September 21 from 6-8 pm and her Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 am Saturday, also at Evans. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations be made to Wellstar Community Hospice, 4040 Hospital West Drive, Austell, Georgia, 30106. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfuneralservice.com Evans Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family.