Bluffton native Lois Susanna Glendening, 83, died on Oct. 30, 2009. She was born on March 21, 1926, in Bluffton, Ohio. A graduate of Bluffton High School and Bluffton University, she earned a master's degree in music education with an emphasis in vocal arts from Ohio State University.

She completed an additional two years of training at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago at which time she accepted a teaching opportunity in Venezuela. Lois met her husband Jack, an oil and gas exploration geologist, in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. Returning stateside for four years, the couple had three children: Michele, Jeff and Lori.

The family later moved to Tripoli, Libya, for four years and returned to Caracas another four years where Lois continued to teach. She pursued her passion for singing as an alto soloist with church and community choirs. The family moved to Tulsa where Lois completed her certification in elementary education at the University of Tulsa.

Lois taught in the Tulsa Public Schools for 16 years. She is predeceased by her parents Edna and Albert Oyer of Bluffton, her husband Jack and a sister Magdalene Suter of Fostoria, Ohio. She is survived by a daughter, Michele (Micky) Glendening of Vinita, Oklahoma, son Jeff Glendening (Dianne) of Tulsa, and daughter Lori Butters of Mansfield, Texas, three grandchildren: Lauren Glendening, Haley Butters and Jeff Butters, sister Ada Mae Cortner of Florida, niece Carla Cortner of Texas and two nephews Tom Suter of Bowling Green, Ohio and David Suter of Michigan.

Locally she is survived by first cousins Alice Niswander and Fred Steiner.

A memorial service was, Nov. 3, 2009 at Redeemer Covenant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Home of Hope, Box 903, Vinita, OK 74301.