Lois O. Aldrich, age 104, died Thursday, November 14, 2013 in Socorro, New Mexico.

Funeral Services were held at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 18, at the Capitan Methodist Church in Capitan, New Mexico with Rev. Dean Kahlich, pastor officiating.
Graveside Services were held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, November 19, at the Gladstone Cemetery in Gladstone, New Mexico with Jerry Johnson officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton, New Mexico.

Lois O. (Wilkinson) Aldrich was born on March 4, 1909 in Alva, Oklahoma to John Foster Wilkinson and Angie Bray (Burton) Wilkinson. She was raised by a ranching family with ranches located first in Oklahoma then the Texas Panhandle and finally in Gladstone, New Mexico. Lois graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico with a Teaching Degree in 1934. She started teaching in Capitan Schools in Autumn of 1934 and taught there for 35 and a half years, retiring in 1971. Mrs. Adrich taught 3rd grade during most of her career, transferring to 4th grade for a few years. She was an extremely dedicated educator, demanding her students possess good manners, respect for others and to learn to their fullest capacity. She did not tolerate any nonsense and all of her students understood that up front. After her retirement, Lois was very active as a volunteer at the Capitan Senior Center, the Capitan Methodist Church, she served on the Capitan Cemetery Board and served as president and chaplain as well as various committees with the Lincoln County Republican Women. She lived in Lincoln County from 1934 until July of 2006 when she moved into the Good Samaritan Care Center in Socorro, New Mexico. Lois was preceded in death by her husband; Ross "Jack" Aldrich, a niece; Dolores Paris, nephew; Frank Topley. 3 sisters; Ossie Wilkinson, Ida Garrett and Babe Winett and 2 brothers; Ralph Wilkinson and Warren Wilkinson.

SURVIVORS:

1 STEP-SON: Jack Aldrich of Roswell, New Mexico.

1 STEP-GRANDDAUGHTER: Barbara Burns and her husband Erskin J. T. "Bud" Burns.

2 STEP-GREAT-GRANDSONS: Sam Burns and Eric Burns.

Numerous nieces and nephews, including: Val Wilkinson and Norwin "Wilk" Wilkinson both of Clayton, New Mexico, Eldean Wilkinson and LaDonna Woolley both of Springer, New Mexico.

And numerous grand, great-grand and great-great-grand nieces and nephews.