Lois Elaine Scott

Lois Elaine Scott, age 94, of Wilmington DE and formerly of Charlottesville VA, died while sleeping in her home on December 30, 2025, after two weeks of hospice care with family members attending her daily. She was born in Oklahoma but spent most of her childhood in St. Joseph, MO and graduated from Central High School.  She earned a B.S. in Religious Education from Phillips University in Enid, OK, where she fell in love with a ministerial student who had the good sense to court her immediately after his ordination.  She married Vernon in St. Joe a few days after her own graduation a year later.  Happily married for over 71 years, they continually doted on each other.

Elaine (as she was known) was an effective preacher’s wife, and Vernon was grateful for her help.  She had a warm, out-going personality and a remarkable ability to converse with complete strangers, so she helped churchgoers to feel welcome.  She was a capable typist who quickly transcribed Vernon’s longhand scrawl into readable texts with improved syntax and no spelling errors.  He sought her feedback on sermon content and presentation and usually incorporated it.  She took part-time jobs when needed, raised their four children with loving care, and willingly relocated a dozen times during his 40-year career.  She placed her family’s needs first and loved them all unconditionally, but anyone mistaking her innate kindness for weakness was soon in trouble – as a few school officials and one former boss discovered!

In her 40’s, Elaine returned to the workforce, first learning to become a medical transcriptionist at a local clinic and eventually rising to office manager.  After moving to Charlottesville, she managed clerical staff in the cardiovascular department at UVA School of Medicine for many years, then she became office manager for a dentist.  Her encore career followed a different direction: in retirement she became a licensed minister and preached part-time for 5 years at two small congregations in Louisa County VA, where she enjoyed her role as pastor.

She loved to play the piano her entire life, and she was an avid reader of fiction and poetry.  After moving to Wilmington DE, she was a founding member of a poetry circle, and she was known to write a few verses herself from time to time.

Lois Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Gladys; her beloved sister, Mary Lou; and a grandson, Isaiah.  She is survived by her loving husband and lifelong partner, Vernon; her children Sharon, David (Sue), Dan (Kristen), and Paul (Steve); grandchildren Duncan (Bridget), Chris, Emily (Ben), Sarah (Marie), Eli, and Noah; and great-grandchildren Amelia, Elsie, Toby, Piper, and Molly.

At her explicit request, no formal services will be held.  Her family will gather privately to remember her at a later time.