Lois Eileen Rye Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lois passed away unexpectedly at her home on August 7, 2014. She was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on November 3, 1944, to Ralph and Eleanor (Rieth) Rye. She graduated from Memorial High School and went on to Eau Claire Technical Institute where she enrolled in secretarial training. She left Eau Claire in 1967 to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in Santa Barbara, driving across the country with a close friend. She found a job at Santa Barbara City College as secretary to Spencer Blickenstaff, who she later married. She continued to work at City College in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department until her retirement in 2000. After Spencer died in 1985, Lois married Daniel Feeney in 1986, to whom she was married for four years. A long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lois rejoiced in the Gospel's Grace and freedom, serving faithfully on the Alter Guild and caring for others with compassion and good humor. She very much enjoyed keeping up with the friendships she made during the time she worked at City College through the Retirees Association. She also belonged to the Caregivers Group and was supportive of all the members. As a talented artist with needlepoint stitchery, she won many prizes for her outstanding and evocative artistry. She was rarely seen without her camera in her hand and loved to share, via emails, the beautiful photographs she took everywhere she went. She was a lifelong traveler who roamed this country and the world, first with her mother, then with Spencer, and later with her friends. With her bubbly personality, open and outgoing manner, and keen interest in people, she made friends everywhere she went. With her warm, generous personality, she could always be counted on to help where needed oftentimes without being asked. Lois is survived by her sister Carole (John) Thorngate of Livermore, California; nephew John (Yvonne) Thorngate of Napa, California; nieces Fayanne (Mike) Ledgerwood of Birmingham, Alabama, and Sharon (Brian) Kennedy of Santa Barbara; great-niece Rhiannon Ledgerwood of Louisville, Kentucky and great-nephews Ian and William Ledgerwood of Birmingham, Alabama She is also survived by step-daughters Cynthia Steinheimer of St. George, Utah and Susan (Mark) Pettigrew of Reno, Nevada; step-grandchildren Rebecca Steinheimer of St. George, Utah, Chris Pettigrew of Sahuarita, Arizona and Erin (Jawad) Dacca of Israel; step-great-grandchildren Melissa and Michael Pettigrew of Sahuarita, Arizona, and Lena and Zane Dacca of Israel. Lois also leaves grieving cousins and friends all over the world who will miss her. Visitation will be held from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday, August 29 at Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel in Santa Barbara. The funeral service will take place at 1:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 N. La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara. Interment will be a Santa Barbara Cemetery immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lois's name to Trinity Lutheran Church or Santa Barbara Community College Scholarship Fund would be very much appreciated.

Lois Eileen Rye

November 3, 1944 - August 9, 2014

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