She was born on June 4, 1928, in Harrisonburg and was the daughter of the late Russell and Mary Lee Hinegardner Early.
Lois married her high school sweetheart, Charles “Tootie” Geil on June 17, 1950, they were married for 73 years until his passing on August 7, 2023. During the Korean War, Lois waited steadfastly until Tootie’s safe return from combat, and then the young couple started their family.
She graduated from Madison College in 1950 with a BA in Education. She taught and coached for three years at Dayton High School where her women’s basketball team infamously beat Tootie’s team from New Market High School. She raised her family while teaching and coaching at Madison College for 20 years and earned a MA in Education along the way. She taught most of the sports classes especially aquatics and dance. At that time, a Madison student had to either pass a swimming course or pass a competency test to graduate from college. Lois helped many students learn to swim in order to graduate. She pioneered the development of the Madison Equestrian Team.
Lois was a gifted athlete and member of basketball teams for Harrisonburg High School and Madison College. She was inducted into Harrisonburg High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. She was an equestrian herself, even participating in fox hunts. She was on the bowling team, archery team and lifeguard for summer camps. She refereed women’s basketball for ten years until her daughter started playing high school basketball, then she hung up her whistle. Perhaps her years as a referee contributed to her feistiness as a sports fan in later years when disagreeing with calls.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Maxine Early and Phyllis Coleman.
She is survived by two children, Karen Geil Coleman (husband, Mike) and Steve Geil (and wife, Loretta); two grandchildren, Katie Cavey and Allissa Bartlett; four great grandchildren, Charlotte and Olivia Cavey, Brayden Bartlett and Isabella Shifflett.
Lois was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church. She served on Rockingham Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary and the church’s soup kitchen.
During her retirement, she and Tootie traveled all over the world. They were long time members of the Duke Club and watched many years of men’s and women’s basketball and football together. During retirement, she also took up the game of golf, and was an excellent golfer, scored two “hole in ones” at Lakeview, played on women’s golf leagues, and traveled up and down the East coast playing at numerous courses. She and Tootie always had to save room for two golf bags wherever they traveled. She was still playing golf into her mid-eighties.
Lois was on the cutting edge of women’s entry into professional careers – balancing raising a family and a career. Her children remember playing at Keezle Hall gym and pool and on gymnastics equipment and trampolines at Ashby Hall. When Men’s athletics arrived at Madison College, she and her colleagues held their ground supporting women’s athletics. Two of her colleagues were instrumental in writing and promoting Title IX ensuring women’s opportunities in college sports.
The family will receive friends and family at Lois’ home, 1107 South Dogwood Drive, Harrisonburg on Sunday January 5, 2025, from 2-4 pm.
Private graveside service will be held at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Otterbein United Methodist Church.
Lindsey Funeral Homes in Harrisonburg is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.lindseyfuneralhomes.com.
