Lois Rankin died in her home at The Wellington in Laguna Hills on July 30, one week after her 96th birthday. Lois grew up as the only child of Oscar and Alma (Lindgren) Jacobson in Valley, Nebraska. She enjoyed the small-town environment, where her parents ran a general store and everyone knew one another. Graduating from Valley High School in 1943, in a class of 43 students, she began nursing training in Omaha, while one of her classmates, Richard Rankin entered the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Like many others, he soon withdrew and entered the military, joining the US NAVY.
Richard and Lois were married in 1944 and were soon stationed around the country while he trained as a naval air corps navigator and played on a Navy exhibition basketball team.
Following the end of the World War II, they settled in Fremont, Nebraska, where he finished his undergraduate work at Midland College. Their only child, Greg, was born in 1946. From 1949 through 1957, they lived in Schuyler and Valley, Nebraska, where Richard taught and coached.
In 1957, the Rankins moved to Santa Ana, where they lived until moving to Tustin in the early 1970s. While Richard served 30 years as a teacher and administrator in the Santa Ana Unified School District, Lois enjoyed working for 16 years assisting special needs students in elementary schools. She greatly enjoyed this role of helping young children and was especially effective a doing so.
Retiring from the school system in 1987, Richard and Lois remained active in the Tustin Presbyterian Church and in the Park Tustin Neighborhood Association for many years. Richard died in 2013, and two years later Lois moved to The Wellington senior living facility in Laguna Hills. There she enjoyed many new friendships, activities, and outings for the next six years. Her family would like to especially thank the staff at The Wellington, the Seasons of Life Hospice staff, and her personal caregivers for their special care.
Lois is survived by son Greg and his wife Linda of Laguna Hills, grandson Jeff, his wife Carrie, and great-grandson Theodore of Tustin, and grandson Brian and his wife Deanna of San Diego.
A memorial service will be held in Waverly Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana at 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 28.
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