Lois Elaine Sprague O’Neal Alexander Lytle, age 96, of Carmel, Indiana, entered into eternal rest on February 9, 2025. Lois was born to Leola and John Sprague at their home in Penfield, Illinois on July 10, 1928. She was the fifth of nine children and the only one with red hair. Lois had an idyllic childhood growing up on her family’s farm. She and her eight siblings comprised most of the pupils of the one-room schoolhouse she attended before graduating from Rankin Township High School.
Lois was an excellent student and earned a full scholarship to college which her parents would not allow her to accept. Instead, the family paid for her to attend Utterback & Brown Business School in Danville, Illinois where she excelled. Upon graduation in 1946, she began working as a secretary at Production Credit Association in Danville taking shorthand, running mimeographs, and handling other office responsibilities. She often bragged that upon her departure in 1949, they had to hire three people to replace her.
Lois resigned when she married Rev. Earl O’Neal on June 5, 1949, and the couple began their 42-year marriage which took them to different churches across the Midwest. She continued her secretarial work along the way in the employ of the churches where her husband was minister. From 1950 – 1956, the young couple served the Towanda Methodist Church in Towanda, Illinois. It was during these years they were blessed with their two children, Ruth and Rodney.
The young family then headed to their next post in Mattoon, Illinois at the Central Community Church which lasted from 1956-1969. Then they crossed state lines to Indiana and ministered to the Chalmers Community Church until 1972. The family’s final assignment was in Cincinnati, Ohio where they served the Evendale Community Church until Earl’s retirement in 1990 due to his failing health. Lois also held a secretarial position at St. Joseph Infant and Maternity home in Cincinnati during their time there.
The retired couple relocated to Kentland, Indiana to live with their daughter, Ruth, and her three daughters. Lois joined and became an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church there. Unfortunately, Earl died in December 1991. In the years to come, the five women spanning three generations supported one another through the hills and valleys of life.
In 2002, Lois married Lyman Alexander whom Earl had known as a youth. The pair enjoyed traveling and made a home in Watseka, Illinois. After Lyman’s death in 2004, Lois remained at their retirement home. In 2007, a neighbor and retired minister, Rev. Hubert Lytle married Lois in a small ceremony. They had 10 years together before his death in 2017. Lois was very proud of her three veteran husbands and forever cherished their memory with love in her heart.
Now thrice widowed, Lois moved back to Indiana to be near her granddaughters and their families. She resided at Hoosier Village where she made many friends and found support and community. After a fall, she relocated to the Restoracy of Whitestown and later the Restoracy of Carmel where she received wonderful care and a peaceful environment in which to spend her final years.
Through it all, Lois supported her church communities through service. Whether it was leading a Sunday School class, serving at wedding and funeral receptions, baking pies for bake sales, or quilting baby quilts, Lois poured her time and heart into the needs of the church members. She witnessed numerous persons give their life to Christ at church camp, held many dying persons’ hands in their final days and praised God at the baptism of countless infants.
She was an incredible cook and impressive baker – effortlessly putting a roast in the oven before heading to church on Sunday, crafting homemade noodles for a sick child, baking her gorgeous American Eagle apple pie, and serving up holiday feasts. Her quilting and sewing skills were second-to-none and honed over years of pouring her spare time into something productive while she waited for her husband to finish many church meetings, marriage counseling sessions, and hospital visits. Lois also enjoyed reading and would yearly read her Bible from “cover to cover”. In her later years, she found pleasure sitting in her comfortable chair, watching classic movies, and being mistaken for Betty White.
Lois also spent every day of her life treasuring her family – as a wife who enjoyed travelling and going to church events. As a daughter who cared for her parents until their final breaths. As a mother who made her children’s clothes and welcomed many pets into their home. As a grandmother who cooked thousands of sugar cookies for decorating and kept an impeccable home. As a great-grandmother who rocked babies in her wheelchair and read stories. She never wavered in her love and never missed an opportunity to express that love through serving others.
Lois leaves behind her children, Ruth (Barney) Schwartz of Sarasota, FL and Rodney (Timothy Skinner) O’Neal of Forestville, CA; granddaughters, Natalie (Greg) Gilbert of Lafayette, IN, Emily (Greg) Schwindler of Carmel, IN, and Ashley (Ross) Marshall of Beech Grove, IN; great-grandchildren, Jack Gilbert, and Victor and Lenora Schwindler; as well as many extended family members and precious friends across the Midwest.
Funeral services will be held at the Milford United Methodist Church, 118 Axtel Avenue, Milford, IL 60953 on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 1:00PM Central Time. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Milford, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor the life of Lois may do so by making a donation in her name to the Preacher’s Aid Society and Benefit Fund, PO Box 19207, Springfield, IL 62794 www.pasbf.org or by doing something in service of others.
Arrangements are by the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka.
Please share a memory of Lois at knappfuneralhomes.com.
