Lois Lane Isenhour Hilliard Fincher, 88, of Galax, Virginia passed away peacefully at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on January 29, 2023, the 62nd anniversary of her marriage to husband, Dr. Donald S. Fincher. Her three children, Chip Hilliard, Connie Hilliard Werle, and Dr. Clark Fincher, daughter-in-law Robin Fincher, and eldest niece Janet Church Hill were by her bedside.

Lois was born on May 8, 1934 in Cherryville, North Carolina to Reverend Walter Edison Isenhour and Willie Mae Rhyne Fraley Isenhour. Lois was the youngest of eleven children. She graduated from High Point High School in High Point, North Carolina. Lois later studied at Mitchell Junior College, Statesville, N.C. and Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C. While working as a home visiting Head Start teacher at Rooftop of Virginia in Galax for 30 years, she earned several Professional Development Certificates in the field of Early Childhood Development.

She was one of the founders of The Arts Council of the Twin Counties, a Charter Member of the Galax Theatre Guild and an active member of the Democratic Party. Lois possessed a beautiful soprano voice and will be forever remembered for her starring roles In Galax Theatre Guild productions as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in "The Music Man", Dolly Levi, in "Hello, Dolly!", Miss Hannigan in "Annie", and her speaking role as Ouiser in "Steel Magnolias", among others. She was also proud of her production of the musical "Big River."

Lois would like to be remembered for her compassion and passion

—- her compassion for children and families less fortunate and her passion for things that brought joy to her life —- love for family and friends, her Methodist faith, a sense of humor, music, the performing arts, politics, American history, favorite foods (tarragon scrambled eggs and See's candy, among many!), world travel, and last, but not least, her LOVE FOR FELINES!

Lois is succeeded by her children:

Lonnie Adams "Chip" Hilliard, III

Constance "Connie" Laynne Hilliard Werle

Dr. Donald Clark Fincher

Daughter-in-law: Robin A. Fincher

Sons-in-law:

Dr. Terry J. Larsen

Robert M. Werle

Grandchildren:

Graham Isenhour Werle

Layne Theodora Werle

Half-sister: Edith Isenhour Dickerson, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Numerous Nieces and Nephews

In addition to her parents, Lois is preceded in death by husbands:

Lonnie A. Hilliard, Jr. and

Dr. Donald S. Fincher

Siblings:

John L. "Buck" Fraley, Cherryville, N.C;

Harry H. Fraley, Seattle, Washington;

Lillian Fraley Long, Faison, N.C.;

Carolyn Fraley Hogan, Charlotte, N.C.;

Walter E. Isenhour, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.;

Dwight L. Isenhour, Taylorsville, N.C.;

Fred Isenhour, Taylorsville, N.C.;

Golden Rebecca Isenhour Church, High Point, N.C; and

Martha Mae Isenhour Walker, Greensboro, N.C.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the First United Methodist Church, Galax, Virginia with the Rev. Mark McFadden officiating.  Burial will follow in Felts Memorial Cemetery, Galax, Virginia.  The family will receive friends Friday, February 10,   from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family  respectfully requests donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 445, Galax, Virginia 24333 or the Galax Carroll Grayson Animal Shelter, 200 Fair Street, Galax, Virginia 24333 .