Lois Jean Trotter, 96, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2024, in Mesa, Arizona. She is survived by her 8 children of 4 sons and 4 daughters; Tom Trotter of Cottonwood, AZ; Bob Trotter (Connie) of Hope, Idaho; Mike Trotter (Darlene) of Scottsdale, AZ; and Steve Trotter (Ginger) of Lufkin, Texas; Terri Trotter of Scottsdale, AZ; Marie Trotter and Lorraine Trotter of Mesa, AZ; and Annie Shaw of Manhattan, Kansas. Lois has ten grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who loved their Nanny dearly.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband Frank Thomas Trotter, her sister, Corinne Roen, and parents Harry and Ethel Crofts of Scottsdale, AZ, all buried at Paradise Memorial Gardens of Scottsdale. Lois was born on the banks of the Wabash River in Logansport, Indiana on January 4, 1928. She worked as a PBX phone operator for Michigan Bell Phone Company at the Lansing Airport until she went into the Navy where she and Frank Trotter were married in their uniforms in Arlington Hall, Virginia near the Pentagon in 1952. They met in the coffee line when Frank noticed that she was wearing an engagement ring. The next day her ring was gone so Frank made his move and their courtship began.
As homemaker, wife, and mother, Lois was passionate and dedicated to 100 percent of everything that she did for her husband and family where they were stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan, and the Philippines as well as military bases throughout the United States. The family moved to Scottsdale from Michigan when Frank retired from the Air Force at Thanksgiving of 1971. Lois’s joy of life, incredibly kind heart, and beautiful smile never wavered and kept her family strong.
Lois loved gardening and growing sunflowers, particularly large ones. She was very creative and succeeded at anything she tried whether it was developing her own photos in a bathroom turned darkroom, sewing clothes for her children, designing macrame in the 70’s, or making pottery where she even had her own kiln in the backyard. And she was an expert at creating meals for the family on a carefully planned budget.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 9:00 AM at Paradise Memorial Gardens at 9300 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 at Shea Blvd and 92nd Street.
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
Heartfelt condolences to all of Lois’s family. Lois was of great comfort to me in October 2019 when my mother, Arletta Guilford, passed at 94 years. They had met as young women at Lansing Airport where they both worked, and they had maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence until my mother’s passing. Very grateful for the friendship they shared all those years! Lois was truly an amazing women, obviously multi-tasking way before the term became popular. Sharing in your sadness at this difficult time but also celebrating a life well lived in joy, faith and devotion.