Obituary of Lois Wellhoner

Lois Evangeline Barnes Wellhoner died Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Ocala Regional Medical Center as a result of complications from a stroke. Mrs. Wellhoner was born January 22, 1922 in Belleair, Florida, and lived in Conner, Florida since 1946. She was a descendant of the pioneer Williams family of Madison County. A graduate of Largo High School in Pinellas County, Mrs. Wellhoner received a B.S. in Home Economics from Florida State College for Women in 1944. She taught for 30 years in the Marion County schools, teaching a variety of subjects (including coaching girls' basketball). Over her career she taught at Reddick High School, Greenville and Belleview schools, Fort McCoy High School, Eighth Street School, and Osceola Middle School. She was a member of Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church, where she was church clerk for many years. She also served on the Building Committee and Historical Committee. She assisted with the weekly senior citizens' meals and participated in the Women's Missionary Union of the church. She served a term as vice moderator for the Marion Baptist Association and, due to the illness of the moderator, was the first woman to preside over a session of the Marion Baptist Association. Her many civic activities included more than fifteen years service as a hospital volunteer with the Grey Ladies at Munroe Memorial Hospital, poll worker for the Marion County Supervisor of Elections, and membership in Alpha Delta Kappa teachers' sorority. Mrs. Wellhoner was predeceased by her parents Harold and Annie Savage Barnes, a son, Edgar Lee Wellhoner, Jr., and a sister Elaine Barnes Collins. She is survived by her husband of 62 years and devoted caregiver, Edgar Wellhoner of Conner; a daughter, Elaine Wellhoner McCreary (Ron) of Tallahassee; four grandchildren: Stephen Wellhoner (Laura) of Island Lake, Jeanelle Wellhoner (Michael Reynolds) and Deborah McCreary Hilton (Paul) all of Conner, and Travis Wellhoner of Killeen, Texas; a sister Dorothy Barnes Dupper of Indian Rocks Beach, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by 8 great grandchildren who were her pride and joy: Brandy and Jacob Reynolds, Clayton, Ian and Conner Hilton, all of Conner; and Jeremy, Ryan, and Layla Wellhoner of Island Lake. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the John Conner Graham Cemetery on Conner Road. In lieu of flowers contribtuions may be made to the Florida Baptist Children's Home in Lakeland.