White River Jct., Vt. —
She was born Oct. 5, 1919, in Canton, Ohio, a daughter of William and Marguerite (Ackerman) Stark. After high school Lois graduated from Canton Business College before going to work for her father at Timken Industries. She enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II where she trained pilots for the ferry service from Alaska to Russia. After her honorable discharge from the military she settled in New York City and began working for American Airlines in reservations. While at the airlines she met and fell in love with John Picola. They were married Aug. 7, 1948, in Canton. The couple lived in Norwalk, Conn. for a time before making their home in New Rochelle, N.Y. In 1977 they moved to the Upper Valley, living briefly in Hanover before coming to White River Jct. where they spent the rest of their lives. Lois worked as an administrative assistant to the Dean at Dartmouth College for several years before retiring. After John’s death in 1999 Lois began taking driving lessons and received her license for the first time at the age of 80.
Lois was a former member of St. Denis Church in Hanover and more recently a member of St. Anthony Church in White River Jct. She was also an avid sports fan enjoying watching the Yankees while living in New York and learning to love the Red Sox after moving to New England. She was also a big fan of the New England Patriots.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1999, as well as two brothers, William and Robert Stark. She leaves many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews including Carol Roberts of Wilton, N.H., Elizabeth Meadow of Bow, N.H. and Timothy Covell, Sr. of White River Jct.
A visitation will be held Saturday, Jan. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony Church in White River Jct., at 11 a.m. on Saturday the 13. Burial will take place in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in the spring.
Condolences may be made to Lois’ family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.