On October 7, 2018, at the age of 82, Tina Lois Pettit Stanley found her angel wings that freed her from her long battle with Alzheimer’s. She died peacefully, under the care of Kindred Hospice, with grace and dignity. She was deeply loved, cherished and respected by so many.
She is survived by her immediate family members: high school sweetheart and devoted husband of 60 years, Vayden F. Stanley, M.D.; daughters, Amy Stanley and spouse, Michele McCall, and Kristin Stanley; devoted surrogate son, Alan Prest; brother, Robert Pettit and spouse, Christen Miller; nieces, Tess Anglin and fiancé, Sachin Jain, and Brynn Anglin and spouse, Elijah Bowie; nephew, Grayson Pettit; and granddaughter, Katherine Amy Song McCall. Lois is also survived by her beloved sister-in-laws and their children: Estelle Herring and children Elaine Stribling and spouse, Bobby, and Lawren Herring; Becky and Bruce Wadzeck and children, Kim Madrid and spouse, Tate Bannowsky, Lee and Nina Wadzeck, and Tamarin Anglin, mother of Tess and Brynn. She is survived by many dear friends, and of course, her beloved cat, Tigger.
Born April 22, 1936, in Ballinger, Texas, to Alva and Ella Mae Lee (Amy) Pettit, Lois spent most of her life in San Angelo, Texas. While well known for her numerous accolades and academic achievements, such as valedictorian at San Angelo High School and Summa Cum Laude at Baylor University, she is first and foremost remembered as someone who dedicated her life to Christ’s mission of serving those in need. Lois strongly advocated for those marginalized and forgotten by society, and persistently championed the underdog. One of her favorite quotes was, “We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful.”
Lois was no stranger to hard work. While at Baylor, she was given the Presidential Scholarship and a T.W. Murray Scholarship for academic excellence. However, she continued to work to finance her college education, at Shannon Hospital as a medical stenographer and at Baylor as secretary in the Spanish and political science departments. Lois was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, served on the Student Court, was named to Alpha Chi Honor Society, and was nominated senior class beauty. She received the Alpha Chi Award for graduating first in her class at Baylor in 1958.
Lois was an avid reader, writer, music lover and life-long learner. When family members relied on her for editing, she was a tough critic to please. Her critical commentary was exacting and succinct, but always given with the intent to be constructive and supportive. Among peers and Baylor faculty, she was remembered for her tenacity and wit, as featured in The Baylor Line, March-April 1958: “Endowed with beauty and brains….. she possesses something far more valuable. Whether it is inborn or acquired, she has the key to unlock these assets: self-motivation and self-discipline. She has an inquiring mind, eager to learn; self-confidence to pursue her course; and a gaiety unmarred by self-pity or indecision.”
As a volunteer and avid fundraiser, Lois served the wider Texas community in a myriad of ways through various institutions and causes: First Christian Church, the Clinical Pastoral Education Program and Auxiliary at Shannon Hospital, Meals for the Elderly, American Cancer Society, CROP Walk, AIDS Foundation, and Alzheimer’s Awareness, to name a few. As a former Spanish and English teacher, she volunteered her services as interpreter for the juvenile courts. Lois was also a brave and noble organizer of PFLAG at First Christian Church and vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community. She was always sensitive to those who might not have a place to go at the holidays and opened her home to them.
Even with her numerous commitments, Lois made time for family and especially enjoyed gatherings for holidays and milestones, such as her 50th wedding anniversary with Vayden in 2008. When her husband, Vayden, received his M.D. degree, Lois was awarded a PHT degree (Putting Hubby Through). When the Stanleys moved to San Antonio, she taught both English and Spanish at Thomas Edison High School. Later moving back to Dallas, Lois again taught English and Spanish at Lake Highlands Junior High School in Richardson. When the family moved back to San Angelo in 1973, she left teaching to have more time with her two young daughters.
Lois will be forever remembered as one who worked with great fervor, dedication and tireless devotion to the betterment of her community. Lois stood out among the citizens of San Angelo as a quintessential model for all things good and kind.
The family would like to thank Lois’s dear friends who continued to visit her, especially Barbara (Babs) Rowland who was Lois’s roommate at Baylor and like a sister to her for 64 years. The family also would like to thank the special angels at Kindred Hospice, especially Gretel Evans, RN, who cared for Lois like a family member.
A memorial service for Lois will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at First Christian Church, San Angelo Texas. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her memory to: First Christian Church, Meals for the Elderly, Alzheimer’s Foundation, American Cancer Society, Critter Shack Rescue, Amy E. Pettit Scholarship at Angelo State University, or to a cause of your choosing.
