Lois Lorraine Kirkpatrick was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was born to Charles and Mary Briles on August 13th, 1931 in High Point, North Carolina. She married John Kirkpatrick on August 6th, 1965 and together they had a blended family of five children. Lois followed her dream and went to ASU where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. While working on her degree, she worked at Motorola, becoming the first female Manager of Finance. Lois worked at Motorola for twenty-six years before retiring in 1989, making many friends while working there.
Lois treasured spending time with her family and friends. Passionate about traveling, Lois visited all fifty states and many countries, often bringing grandchildren on one of her many adventures. Lois loved Diet Coke with no ice, lemon drop candy, Circus Peanuts, potatoes, Jello and ice cream. She also loved playing cards (especially Rummy and Bridge), jigsaw puzzles, Bingo, and poker. Lois made sure the whole family knew how to play cards and always made her visitors partake in a card game. Lois often joked the stakes of the card game included a wagon wheel for the losing player or a smiley face for the winning player. “It’s only a wagon wheel” was a phrase Lois often joked to the losing player to make them feel better when she beat them in a game.
Lois often ended her visits with others reciting her favorite saying, “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.”
Lois left this world on September 2nd, 2021, a few weeks after celebrating her 90th birthday. She is survived by her children Steve Kennedy (Patricia Artusi), Lynne D’Elia (Philip D’Elia), Ray Kirkpatrick (Vicki Huggett), Richard Kirkpatrick (Jennie Kirkpatrick), Cindy Tipton (Jerry Tipton); her grandchildren Michael Ziraldo (Liz Ziraldo), James Ziraldo (Tina Ziraldo), Anthony D’Elia (Mindi D’Elia), Nicole Loupe (Joseph Loupe), Kevin Kennedy (Heather Kennedy), Brian Kennedy (Marie Kennedy), Cortney Domm (Darrin Domm), and Ryan Kirkpatrick; and her greatgrandchildren Aley Underhill (Matthew Underhill), Erik Ziraldo, Talon Ziraldo, Trinity Ziraldo, Colin Loupe, Reid Loupe and Audrey Loupe. She is preceded in death by her husband John Kirkpatrick and her twin daughters, Ira Jan Kennedy and Iris Jo Kennedy.
Valeie and I met Lois when she first got here from N.C. We had some good times
before and after she married John. What fun it is when she was with us . Her
children was a lot like her . Fun and happy as can be. We wish the best for the
family. Love u all, — Dee An Valerie Webb–
My Dear Mama, There are no words to tell you how much I love you. I love your sense of humor, your zest for life, and ability to make friends with ease. Many people have said you had a hard life but you always said you had a GOOD life. Just shows what a good attitude you always had. I will love you forever, Cinny❤️
Lois was a remarkable woman and like a mom to me and a good friend while working for her and John as their cleaning lady for thirty years. Not once was there a time Lois did not have something to laugh about. And quite a few times share an off color joke.
We kept our friendship going after she entered assisted living, never missing an opportunity to go to RigaTony’s along with her friend Polly from Sun Lake for Italian and a half glass of Chianti. She alway went home with leftovers and a purseful of mints.
I’ll treasure Lois’s memory and miss that special laugh of hers.
Grandma,
We love you and miss you. Thank you for teaching me how to play cards and taking us places. Thank you for the sleepovers, the laughs, the wagon wheel or the smiley face.
Love #1
Love you always great grandma, sorry we couldn’t spend more time together, but I’m glad of the time we did spend together. Thank you for helping form my dad into the amazing man he is today. Love you a bushel and a peck grandma❤️❤️xoxo 😚
Aunt Lois exemplified the kind of person I have learned to respect the most in life – one who faced a lot of adversity but did so with a lot of determination ànd a good attitude. I will miss the phone calls when we reminisced about some of the hilarious vacation episodes her and John had with Mom (her Sister) and Dad -vacations that Mom and Dad cherished highly. Aunt Lois may you rest in peace. You will be fondly remembered and certainly missed.
Great grandma was always so amazing, nice and full of life and joy. I don’t think there was ever a time that when I saw her she wasn’t smiling or laughing. I always remember going over to her house as a kid and eating as many mints as I could before we had to leave which she would also always encourage me doing.
A bushel and a peck great grandma.
Love,
Talon
Lois was a very special lady. Her beautiful, kind heart made her so easy to love. As well as her wonderful sense of humor.I will miss and love her forever!
Grandma, thank you for the love, happy memories… you’re still the BEST teller of jokes that I’ve ever known, and showing us how to be strong when things get tough. You will be forever in our hearts.
Lois, you will be dearly missed! You left behind a legacy of memories that will not be forgotten. We all love you and miss you!
Big Twerp AKA Grandma,
I love you so much and think about you every day. You left such a mark on my heart and soul that helped shaped me to who I am today. You overcame so much adversity and did so with such a good attitude. I miss hearing your voice, reading your emails (always in ALL CAPS), listening to your jokes and just getting a hug whenever I needed one. You left a legacy of love for all of us, Grandma! I love you forever and a bushel and a peck!!!