Lois Hatfield

Lois Hatfield (Wedgwood), age 81 of Columbus, Ohio passed away peacefully at home on July 29, 2024 surrounded by her family. Born June 13, 1943 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Llewellyn and Gertrude Wedgwood, Lois graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1961 and graduated with a BA degree from Carroll University and a MS in Counseling from Westminster College. She worked 20 years for Packard Electric Division – General Motors in material management as a production planner. Following this, she and her husband shared ownership of RDR, Inc., a wiring harness supplier, for 14 years.

An early supporter of the women’s movement, she helped found the local chapter of The National Organization for Women (NOW) in Warren, Ohio and helped initiate the Rape Crisis team. More recently, she volunteered her time with the Red Cross, Mid-Ohio Workers Association and as a poll worker. Lois was passionate about people, travel and animals, especially dogs and horses, and supported many organizations that spoke to her heart. She was a voracious reader of books and newspapers, and had strong opinions on politics, often penning letters to the editor. She was a skilled fisher and enjoyed fishing with her husband in Lake Erie, the Florida Gulf Coast, British Columbia and Alaska, where she often caught the first and the biggest fish. Lois was reliable, smart, unique, and humble. Those who spent any time with her knew that she was a master listener who helped people privileged to know her feel heard. She was particularly proud to have raised strong, kind and creative daughters and the role she played in the lives of her grandchildren.

Lois is survived by her loving husband of 31 years Lester Hatfield of Columbus, daughters Karen (Kyle) Sharp of Columbus, Kathy (Jeff) Swartz of Wasilla, AK and five grandchildren Hannah, Mallory, Evan, Heather and Tyler; sister Sharon Mytyk of Wauchula, Florida, nephews Josiah and Tommy Pierson, and nieces Nicole Mytyk and Erica (Anthony) Scheipsmeier and family. She is also survived by her stepsons Michael (Brandy) Hatfield and Brian (Patricia) Hatfield and grandson Brandon Hatfield and sister-in-law Sharon (Richard) Kale and family and brother-in-law Edward Hatfield. She is preceded in death by her parents Llewellyn and Gertrude Wedgwood and sister Mary Pierson (Wedgwood) of Grand Rapids.

A visitation will be held August 8 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Schoedinger Funeral Home in Columbus. Lois was grateful for her care at The James Cancer Hospital and her family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the James”, fund # 301352 https://giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/301352