Lois Alberta Radford

Forever in our hearts, our dear mother Lois Alberta Radford passed away on September 29, 2025 at the age of 93. Lois was born on July 14, 1932 in Alden, Kansas. She was the daughter of Evangeline (Taylor) Vanatta and Ernest Vanatta.

Growing up in Kansas, Lois started working in high school at a laundry and dry cleaners. Her favorite co-worker was her mother. Lois worked there for a few years, then went to work at a car dealership. Her next job, (that she talked fondly about) was working as a switch board operator, where she worked with her sister. She received promotions and very much enjoyed working there.

Later in life, Lois worked with her loving husband David, running his General Contracting business. She managed the office, books, billings, etc. Lois spoke in her final days that her “greatest and most important job” was dedicating herself to her family as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

If you were lucky enough to know Lois, you knew she was kind, thoughtful and cared deeply about her beloved husband David, her loving family, and many wonderful friends. In her final days she reminisced about the many memories she had made throughout her life with David, her children, and all those she loved.

Lois was predeceased in death by her parents, Evangeline and Ernest Vanatta, her two brothers, Donald Vanatta (Alice), and Lee Vanatta (Charlene), and one sister, Doris LoConte (Sam). Lois is survived by her sister, Helen Kirby, her 3 children Pamela Winters Smith, Steven Radford (Sarah), and Jeffrey Radford (Kim). She will be dearly missed by her 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Lois is also survived by a few nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at a later date at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California, where Lois will be interred with her husband David.

In lieu of flowers, Lois asked that donations be made to the Mesquite Veterans Center in Mesquite, Nevada, with an emphasis of supporting Naval Veterans who served our country.