USGenWeb | OKGenWeb | County Archive | County Queries
OKCHOCTA   Choctaw County Oklahoma Genealogy
Cemeteries | Obituaries | Headstones | Marriages | Photos | Bios & Tidbits | Maps | Pioneer Papers | Guestbook | HOME

KOCH, LOIS LENA (DODD / WRIGHT)

Transcribed by Bessie Meredith

BORN: DECEMBER 10, 1920 DIED: FEBRUARY 3, 2005

Lois Lena (Dodd) (Wright) Koch was born on Dec. 10, 1920, in Hugo, Okla., to Jether and Irene Dodd and left us on Feb. 3, 2005, from Kingman.

From the time of her birth, Lois was a precocious child and although her formal education was limited, she made up for this with her astute and candid comportment.

She met and married George Wright and between the two of them produced seven offspring. Both were proud parents of their brood and watched them grow. George passed away, leaving Lois after 25 years of marriage.

Lois was lost after George’s exodus until she had the good fortune of meeting Leonard Koch. Leonard and Lois were married and for the next 38 years shared a wonderful life together. As any person can plainly see, Lois found two exceptional men in her life and lived life to its fullest with both of them.

Lois was an exceptional cook and spent the majority of her life composing extensive meals that not only was the family lucky enough to consume, but friends as well. As a chef, she prepared epicurean meals for restaurants she co-owned and worked in throughout the Southwest. Lois did not use recipes; she was a cook that used her wisdom in preparation. Her carte du jour’s were to die for.

Lois was not only an outstanding mother, grandmother, wife, homemaker and a brilliant chef, but was a lady you could count on in the time of need.

She was always there for you. She was a robust lady and was never afraid to get her hands dirty, no matter the task. Lois would share a tear with you or give you the back of her hand if need be. She was a hard worker and kept herself and home spotless.

In youth she was a beautiful young lady, and in her waning years, this youthful beauty turned into a splendor of sharp-witted loveliness.

As the hackneyed cliché goes, “Parents are not supposed to bury their children.” Regrettably, Lois had to endure the passing of three of her children. Two children she gave birth to, Billie Freeman and Leroy Wright, the third child was Sherry Wright, and although Sherry was not born of her body, she was not a daughter-in-law, but more like a daughter. These losses were devastating and she spoke of all three of them often. If it had not been for Lois’ inner strength and the companionship of Leonard, she surely would have suffered more over these losses.

Lois leaves behind the many, many people who loved her. Her sister, Dorothy Foutz of Albuquerque, N.M.; a half brother, Lane Dodd of Mesa; two half sisters, Terri Bushman of Joseph City, Ariz., and Diane Barba of Mesa; and an aunt, Dorothy Gardner of Dallas.

Three of her children she is already with, Billie, Leroy and Sherry. Her other children she leaves behind miss her deeply. Her daughters, Donna Cowan of Flagstaff, Kathy Spendlove of Camp Verde, and stepdaughters, Pam Koch of Reno, Nev., and Lillie Budd of Franktown, Colo. Her sons, Keith Wright of Kingman, Craig Wright of Salome, Ariz., and Johnny Wright, who calls home from anywhere on terra firma he happens to be.

Lois also leaves behind sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, both current and ex, 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

The friends she has touched in her 84 years on earth are innumerable. To list all the people who knew and loved Lois would be an impossible task and require a special section in the newspaper; however, if there is one thing that will stand out in the minds of all the people who knew Lois, family and friend alike, this, without a doubt, would be Lois’ frankness, forthrightness, guilelessness and honesty. With Lois, you always knew exactly how she felt and where she stood on any given subject and/or person. This Saucy Lady said exactly what was on her mind. Even at 84, she did not pull any punches. When she spoke, you knew, after all, she was Lois and more often than not, was intensely straightforward.

The family had endured an enormous loss and this bereavement was eased by the caring and help extended to them by the doctors, nurses and staff at Kingman Regional Medical Center on this occasion. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the KRMC personnel for all their help and compassion during this time. Special thanks must go to John Anastoff, the float nurse at KRMC, for his support and going beyond any call of duty for his unwavering benevolence.

There are doctors and there are doctors, but a doctor’s doctor has to be Dr. Paul Kalanithi. Lois truly loved this man, and with his hands of magic, his brilliant mind and his resolute treatment, Dr. Kalanithi brought Lois through many serious illnesses in the past. Lois had complete confidence in this doctor of doctors and has stated on many occasions that she was a very fortunate person to have Dr. Kalanithi for her doctor. If Dr. Kalanithi ever had a motto or should acquire a platitude, it would surely be this, “A Zeal to Heal.”

Dr. Kalanithi, the family would like to extend their most profound gratitude to you for being the person you are.

Lois will have a viewing on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Sutton Memorial Funeral Home.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at Sutton Memorial Funeral Home and in interment service to follow immediately after the memorial service at Mountain View Cemetery.

Pastor Weston Burnside of Hilltop Southern Baptist Church will conduct both services.

Any person who wishes is welcome to attend these services.