Lola Mae Savoia, Hillsboro
Lola Mae Savoia Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (jostfuneralhome.com)
January 1, 1925 - July 19, 2021
Hillsboro - Lola Mae Savoia, 96, passed away July 19, 2021 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born January 1, 1925 in Hillsboro to Alex and Jessie (Miller) Stratman.
Her mother passed away when she was four years old. Her sister Marjorie was six at that time. Her father then married Mary Funk, to that union were born three children Peggy, Bob, and Bill.
She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1942 and went on to the school of cosmetology in Wichita.
While working in Wichita, Lola shared an apartment with a friend. The friend’s brother lived upstairs and his friend, Robert (Bob) Washmon visited. Bob and Lola were introduced, dated, and were married in California in January of 1945 where Bob was stationed for his military service. To this union five children were born. Terrie was born in California. They returned to Hillsboro after his military service where Cynthia, Janis, Kim, and Greg were born.
While Bob was hunting pheasant in November 1978 with his brother-in-law Harry Wallenmeyer and grandson Darrin, he had a massive heart attack and passed away. It was a difficult time for Lola.
Lola lived in a home on 2nd street. A widowed neighbor, John Savoia, lived across the street from Lola. She was out sweeping the drive when he walked over to visit. He brought Lola a tray from Colombia. They became friends, started dating and were married in December 1981.
John was a missionary and had served in Colombia most of his adult life. After their marriage they moved to Guadalajara, Mexico. Lola went to language school to learn Spanish. After living in Mexico for about a year, they moved to Cali, Colombia, South America, where they lived for nine years with brief stays back in Hillsboro for furlough. After living in Colombia, John served another three years in Queretaro, Mexico. Then he retired from missionary service in 1994.
They moved to the country outside of Edmond, Oklahoma next to Lola’s daughter Janis. They lived there five years before moving back to Hillsboro in 1999.
Lola was talented and intelligent. She started out her working career as a beautician. For a while she was the head cook at the school. She then worked for the City of Hillsboro, managed the Pizza Hut for a while and finished out her career at First Federal Savings and Loan.
She also loved to sew, making clothes for her daughters and shirts for the boys. She knitted and was an accomplished artist. She made lead glass lamps with the help of Greg. She was a great cook and baker. The cookie jar was seldom empty, not an easy thing to accomplish with five children. Saturday mornings she baked bread and cinnamon rolls. She planted a tree wherever she lived.
Lola is survived by siblings Peggy Hunter, Lakeland, FL; Bob (Dee) Stratman, Tempe, AZ and Bill (Janet) Stratman, Madison, AL.
Children Cynthia (Roger) Fleming, Hillsboro; Janis McIntyre, Edmond, OK; Robert (Nicole) Washmon, Leadville, CO and Gregory (Donna) Washmon, Hillsboro. Step-children Johnny (Irene) Savoia, Jamaica Plain, MA; Ruth Restrapo, Wimberly, TX and Tim (Carla) Savoia, Fresno, CA.
Grandchildren Shawn (Mike) Vondenkamp, Monte Dalke, Mikki (Seth) Larson, Jessie Nikkel, Robert Benjamin Washmon, Kris (Stacey) Baker and Whitney Darcy.
Step-grandchildren Richard Beman, Jay (Erin) Restrepo, Jack (Lucy) Savoia, Marco Savoia, Rachel (Brooks) Patterson, Caleb Savoia, Faith Savoia Wuerth.
10 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren.
Predeceased by husbands Robert L. Washmon in 1978, John S. Savoia in 2019; daughter Terrie L. Todd in 2020; step-daughter Deborah Savoia Berman in 2016.
Celebration of Life 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Parkview M.B. Church in Hillsboro, officiated by Pastor Tom Byford. Committal service 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Hillsboro. Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
Memorials to Caring Hands Humane Society in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.
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