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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Voelker, Lois Anita

Age 94

VOELKER, Lois Anita Died peacefully at St. Joseph’s Care Center on November 1st, three weeks short of her 94th birthday.

Lois was born on November 20, 1919, in Spokane, Washington, to Claude and Anna Patterson.

Except for a little over a year in Maryland during World War II and three years in Colville, she lived in Spokane her entire life.

She graduated from North Central High School and received a teaching degree from Eastern Washington State College.

She began a teaching career in the primary grades, initially in a one-room schoolhouse outside Spokane.

In 1942 she married Joseph Arnold Voelker in St. Aloysius Catholic Church.

When Joe entered the Navy she gave up her teaching position to accompany him to Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, where he was stationed.

After the War, Lois and Joe returned to Spokane where they had their two children, Joey and Julie.

In 1962 the family moved to Colville where they entered the bowling business.

They moved back to Spokane in 1965 to become part-owners of Silver Lanes Bowling Alley on the South Hill.

Silver Lanes became a family business, with Lois doing accounts while Joey managed the desk and Julie worked in the restaurant during the summers.

Lois really enjoyed bowling, joining her first league in 1956 and continuing to bowl on and off until around 1990.

Over the years Lois and Joe traveled to New York City (where they participated on a game show), Ireland and Germany, and took numerous trips to the Washington coast where Joe loved to fish and Lois, always the avid shopper, loved to explore the shops that didn’t rock with the waves.

Lois also enjoyed attending functions with family and friends closer to home, and she loved having four grandchildren as they arrived one after another.

After she lost Joe to a heart attack in 1988, Lois was able to remain in the house they built together for another fifteen years.

Lois is survived by a son Joseph, of Spokane; and a daughter Julie, of Corvallis, Oregon; by four grandchildren - Melissa and Suzanna Voelker, and Colin and Alan Oriard; and by a great-granddaughter, Alice Voelker, whom she was delighted to meet on Alice’s first birthday, just two months before Lois passed away.

The Rosary for Lois will take place at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home (2203 N. Division) on Friday, November 15th at 7pm with a pre-viewing from 6 to 7pm.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church (at 18th and Freya) on Saturday, November 16th at 10am with a reception to follow.

The Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in the mausoleum at 1pm.

To view Lois’ online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements entrusted to