Lois Elaine Smith's Obituary
Lois Elaine (Turnquist) Smith, 94, recently of Ashburn, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 21st. She was born February 7, 1928, to Hilmer Carl Turnquist and Irene Elaine (Swanson) Turnquist in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Lois attended Hamlin University in Minneapolis. She moved to Washington, DC in 1948, shortly after World War II and thereafter worked as a secretary in Naval Intelligence at the Pentagon. Lois married Harry Raymond Smith, Jr. on March 3, 1950, and was a homemaker and wonderful mother to three sons. She was a member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in New Carrollton, Maryland for most of her life. Lois later took architectural drafting classes and ultimately designed their next 2 homes in Lanham and Glenn Dale, Maryland, as well as a laundromat, small shopping center, and office space in Southern Maryland. She later returned to the workforce, working in human resources for McCall’s Printing Company in Glenn Dale, Maryland, and Editor’s Press in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Lois loved to travel with Harry and family, having taken many cruises. She traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. She was proud of her Swedish heritage. Lois enjoyed the theater, attending National Geographic lectures, and playing bridge with friends. She loved animals, especially dogs. She was a great team Mom supporting her boys in softball, baseball, basketball, football, track and field, and SCUBA diving. She was an active member in St. Christopher’s Supper Club with great friends. She and Harry sponsored the Alvarez family who were immigrants from Cuba. Lois was a tireless supporter of Harry as he transitioned from a road building civil engineer to an attorney in private practice. She spent endless hours typing legal documents, as well as term papers and reports for her sons. Lois always loved the water which eventually drew her to Solomons, Maryland overlooking the Patuxent River, where she lived for 19 years. She was friendly, social, generous with her time and guidance, genuine, and loving. She loved and cared for her family deeply. Her strong family values and Christian faith have been the foundation supporting the family for a lifetime and that will continue into the lifetimes that are yet to come.
Lois survived her husband of 55 years, Harry Raymond Smith, Jr., son of Harry Raymond Smith, Sr. and Edna Catherine Smith. Lois is survived by sons Brandon (wife Karen), Kennon (wife Donna), and Christopher (wife Candace (Candy)); grandchildren Ryan (wife Heidi), Robin (wife Kelley), Lindsay, Kellen (wife Camyla), C. Andrew (Drew), Adam (fiancée Courtney), and Matthew (wife Adrianne (Annie)); and great grandchildren Olivia, Charlotte, Chase, and his soon-to-be baby sister.
The family will receive guests for a visitation on June 26, 2022 at 1:00PM at Saint David's Episcopal Church, 43600 Russle Branch Pkwy. Ashburn, VA 20147. A Memorial Service will begin at 2:00PM. She will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with her husband, Harry.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Lois E. Smith may be directed to support cancer research at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Lois E. Smith to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, P.O. Box 49143, Baltimore, MD 21297-9143 or make a gift online.
Gifts in memory of Lois E. Smith may also be made to the Maryland SPCA, Inc., 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21211, or online. Phone: 410-235-8826.
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