Elma Lois S. Waguespack

Elma Lois (Lois) Schroeder Waguespack of San Antonio died Tuesday, May 10, 2022 after a full and inspiring life. Lois was born in New Orleans, LA on March 4, 1922, to Elmer Louis Schroeder and Jeanne Venus LeBlanc Schroeder. She was preceded in death in 2013 by her beloved husband for 71 years, John Francis (Jeff) Waguespack, Lt Col USAF, and in 2014 by her only sibling, Jeanne Lee Schroeder Sanders, of New Orleans. She is survived and sadly missed by her children: son, John F. (Jeff) Waguespack, III and wife, Laura of Dallas; daughter, Lois (Suki) Matelan and husband, Mathew Nicholas (Nick) of Glendale, CA; and son, Kendall Louis Waguespack and wife, Alina of Austin; by her beloved sister-in-law, Aline (Tousa) Davis of New Orleans, LA; grandchildren, Evelyn (Eve), Eleanor (Ele), Aline, and Robert; great-grandchildren, Austin, Sophie, and Josephine; and by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.Raised on Live Oak Plantation on the West Bank above New Orleans, Lois attended Louise S. McGhee and McMain schools in New Orleans. She met Jeff, the love of her life, when she was 15 and they were riding in a Mardi Gras truck parade. They married on May 2, 1942. Their first son was born just before Jeff was deployed with the Army Air Force and piloted B-17s in North Africa and Italy. He returned in early 1944, and daughter Suki was born in December of that year. They spent their first few post-war years living in various states until Jeff was released from active duty. They then moved to Lafayette, LA. Their second son Ken joined the family in 1949. In 1950, they returned to New Orleans to be close to their parents and Jeffs siblings.

In 1953, Lois began teaching first grade while concurrently working to complete her college degree that had been interrupted by the war and marriage. She taught in public elementary schools in St. Bernard, Jefferson, and Orleans Parishes until 1965, while keeping careful rein on her three active children and making a lovely home, with support from Jeff, his close family, and her own parents. She earned her B.A. in Education in 1960 and her M.Ed. in 1964, both from Tulane University. She continued to teach in lower elementary grades and as a reading specialist when she and Jeff, then working for the FAA, moved successively to Houston, to Tacoma Park, Maryland, to Vineland, New Jersey, and to Oklahoma City. In 1979 they retired to McAllen, Texas. They later spent a year in Singapore while Jeff worked as liaison with ICAO.In 1999, Jeff and Lois moved to Air Force Village II in San Antonio, TX, where they were active and enthusiastic participants in retired life until Jeffs death in 2013. Lois continued to enjoy her many friends and occasional family visits, although she sorely missed her loving companion of so many years.

In January of 2020, she moved from their apartment to Liberty House, but recurring health issues caused her to move into The Vista in late 2020. She was desolate when Covid-19 restrictions limited her social activities and visits. However, she was able to celebrate her 100th birthday on March 4, 2022 with her children, daughter-in-law Alina, granddaughter Aline, and niece Linda Morrisson.

Sadly, Lois tested positive for Covid-19 on April 24th. She rallied for awhile, but pneumonia resulted in her hospitalization and death on May 10. She will be sorely missed.To view the services for Elma, please click here

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

9:00 AM

BLUE SKIES OF TEXAS WEST

5100 JOHN D. RYAN BLVD

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2022

1:30 PM

FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

1520 HARRY WURZBACH RD

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made in her name to the Chapel Fund at Blue Skies of Texas West.