Obituary of Lois Parry

Lois Davis Parry, 83, of King of Prussia, PA passed away peacefully on April 25, 2020.  Suffering with Alzheimer’s disease over the past few years, she looked forward to this day of restoration.  Her favorite topic over the last few months was knowing she would be going to heaven because she had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  She had a sure hope for an eternal future in heaven, which was a great comfort to her.  The family is very grateful for the kindness and care shown to her by the staff of Providence Place memory care in Collegeville, PA. 

A native of Havertown, PA, Lois graduated from Haverford High School in 1954.  She attended Wheaton College, IL, then transferred and graduated in 1958 from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in Home Economics. She later earned a Masters degree in Home Economics Education from Wilkes University.  Lois spent many years at home raising her family, but later taught Family and Consumer Science for one year at Garnet Valley and 14 years at Upper Darby High School.  She loved teaching and found it her calling to educate young students in nutritious eating and cooking and child development skills.

Lois lived in Montoursville, PA for nearly 25 years and during that time she served her community and participated in many local clubs.  She was in the Williamsport Garden Club, Christian Women’s Club, Music Club, Clio Club, and Williamsport Tennis Club and presided as president/chairwoman over most of these for at least a term. She also served on the Loyalsock Township school board.  Lois’ expressive, high-energy, and outgoing personality allowed her to connect with nearly everybody.

Anyone who knew Lois knows that she didn’t just participate in her passions, she excelled at them.  She took homemaking seriously and was never idle.  She channeled her energy to bettering the family food by planting and harvesting a garden, canning tomatoes, making homemade applesauce and doing everything from scratch.  Ask her children and grandchildren about cowboy cookies, pies, Christmas pancakes or her potato soup!  She was a self-taught gardener whose natural creativity led to best of show and award-winning flower arranging, a skill that she continued throughout her life.  She sewed her own clothes and even taught ultra-suede tailoring classes.  A serious crafter, she made every in vogue craft and even had her picture in the newspaper with her gingerbread house masterpieces.  In the 1980’s she became a Color Me Beautiful consultant and grew her home-based business to helping other women with color consultations, make-up and fashion classes.  She enjoyed playing tennis at the local clubs and made lasting friendships, including discovering her second husband, from her love of the game.  She enjoyed traveling and has been all over the world, including three trips to Israel, often with her sister Dorel.  She enjoyed many ocean and inland ship cruises with her husband, John, and also accompanied him on several business conference trips within the U.S. and Canada as well as overseas including London, Paris, Caracus, Singapore and others.  She loved dogs and could have been found outside for a long walk with them.  From the very beginning she was a gourmet hostess extraordinaire, sacrificing herself for the pleasures of the guest.  Even as Alzheimer’s claimed her mind, she desired to cook, clear the table and do the dishes. 

Lois’ life was marked by a deep faith and love for Jesus Christ.  She lived out this life in the way she raised her family and engaged herself in church ministry.  Over the course of her life she was a member of Garden View Baptist, Memorial Baptist, Community Baptist and, most recently, Church of the Saviour, Wayne, PA.  A seasoned singer, she enlivened worship with participation in choir, often singing in small groups or as a soloist.   She engaged with young children in kids’ camps and Sunday school, taught and participated in women’s Bible studies and developed lifelong friendships in adult Sunday school classes.  She was an avid reader, especially of Christian literature.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Guest Davis and father, Elwood Thomas Davis of Philadelphia, PA.  Also predeceasing her were her grandparents, Beatrice Viola Guest, Claude Oglesby Guest, Caroline Culp Davis, and Franklin B. Davis, all of Philadelphia.

She is survived by her husband, John B. Parry, sister, Dorel Davis Elliott, of Hoover, AL and brother, Wayne Davis (Peggy), of King of Prussia, PA.  She is survived by three children, whom she shared with first husband, Robert P. VanValin (deceased) of Williamsport, PA:  Laura VanValin Moffett (Craig, deceased) of Malvern, PA, Stephen Paul VanValin (Kara) of Chester Springs, PA and Julia VanValin Sanders (Will) of Chester Springs, PA.  Lois is also survived by step-daughter, Melissa Parry Ritchie (Charlie) of Henryville, PA,  and eight grandchildren:  Matthew Moffett (Katie Rose), Megan Moffett, Ryan VanValin (Nina), Melissa Moffett Lenko (Andy), Julianna VanValin, Liam Sanders, Chloe Sanders and Audrey Sanders.

Family only interment will be scheduled at a future date at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens.  A Celebration of Life will follow at Church of the Saviour, Wayne, PA as scheduling permits.  In lieu of flowers, Lois has requested memorials be made to the Worship Arts Ministry at Church of the Saviour, 651 N. Wayne Ave., Wayne, PA  19087.

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home of Conshohocken, East Norriton and Trappe 610-489-7900, msrfh.com