Lois Conklin Payne died on Monday, May 27, at Otterbein North Shore Senior Lifestyle Community in Lakeside—Marblehead. Lois was born in Oak Harbor, Ohio, daughter of Effie and Wesley Balduf.
She graduated from Port Clinton H.S. as Valedictorian and attended Tiffin University, after which she worked in the Personnel Department on the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio. There she met and married Charles S. Conklin of the University of Minnesota. They had two sons, lived in many cities and traveled much of the world. They retired to Cape Coral, FL, in 1977, where her husband died in 1989. No matter where the Conklins lived, Lois was always involved in community affairs. In Toledo in the 1970’s Lois co-chaired the first three Decorator Showcases including the Stranahan home. She also volunteered to raise funds for the Hospital Ship Project Hope.
While in Cape Coral, Lois was very active in the Faith Presbyterian Church, serving as Moderator of the Deacons and the Elder and Chairman of Membership. She was a past President and Founder of her beloved PEO Chapter GD. She was General Chairman of the State PEO Convention in Fort Myers in 1991. She had been an avid golfer, winning several Club Championships in New Jersey, and was a former member of the Inverness Club in Toledo and Palmetto Pines CC in Cape Coral.
In 1995, she married Orville D. Payne, her childhood sweetheart, of Port Clinton, in Sarasota, FL. When she moved to Sarasota, she became a member of PEO Chapter BM.
Mrs. Payne is survived by her son William H. Conklin and wife Sandra of Raleigh, NC, and granddaughters Caryn Conklin Quinn of NY; Dr. Heather Conklin of Memphis, TN, and her child Calvin; son Craig Conklin and his wife Margaret of Tidewater Island, Ft. Myers, FL, and grandson Bradley of Powell, OH; her only sister, Marjorie , Jack, Bob and Tom Payne.
Lois was blessed to have had two wonderful husbands that loved her dearly. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
Private graveside services will be held at Coral Ridge Cemetery, Cape Coral, FL. Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home, Port Clinton, is handling arrangements. On line condolences may be shared with the family at www.neideckerleckcrosser.com
