Lois Jane (Hardy) Wilt

Houghton --- Lois Jane Hardy Wilt, a former resident of Houghton, died Friday, September 27, 2024, at the age of 99.

Lois was born and raised in Rushford. Her father was the area doctor and her mother their church’s organist (in her early years, Lois hand-pumped the pipe organ while her mother played for worship services). Lois was a music major at Houghton College, playing a flute solo in her class’s graduation ceremony, and received her M.A. at Case-Western Reserve University.

For several years, she taught music at primary and secondary levels in Lincoln ME, where her husband Lloyd pastored a church, then returned to Houghton to teach in the college’s music department as Lloyd taught in the English department. Her daughter Cindy majored in flute and music education under her.

Several years after Lloyd died, Lois moved to Tennessee to be near her daughter Cindy and the family of her son Tim. She is survived by her sons Tim and Kendall, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to music, Lois enjoyed camping, travel (especially trips to see family members—nuclear or extended—and friends in Maine or connected to Houghton), sports, practicing hospitality (often lodging and helping international students), and church-related activities.

Until just two years ago, she was a pianist for her church; she encouraged the people to sing out, saying “The Bible says to sing. It doesn’t say ‘sing on tune’; a ‘joyful noise’ is fine. But sing!” Even this year, though breath and embouchure grew weaker, she played her flute daily.

Lois’s funeral service was in Murfreesboro and its content and structure were in respect of what she had written years earlier: “I want my funeral to be a time of rejoicing in God’s goodness; may God be the focus of this service, not me!”

Family and friends may gather at the Kopler-Williams Funeral Home on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow visitation in White Cemetery, Rushford.

Memorials if desired to: Houghton College’s Music Education program.