Lois Bainbridge

March 21, 1927 - March 26, 2019

Lois Bainbridge, 92, of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born March 21, 1927, in Mahaska County, the daughter of Fred and Avis DeLong Denburger. She attended country school in the Coal Creek neighborhood of Mahaska County and graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1944. As a senior in high school she lived in Oskaloosa during the week so the commute to school was easier, this allowed her to take on the job training in the Farm Bureau office. She continued to work at Farm Bureau following graduation. In 1947, Lois moved to Des Moines upon accepting a position as a Clerk at the Iowa State Capital. After her year at the capital she moved back to Oskaloosa. She was offered a job as the assistant office manager at Alsop’s Department Store. In 1949, she went on a date to Tulip Time in Pella with a gentleman named William “Wigg” Bainbridge. On May 7, 1950, the two of them were married at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. Following their marriage, she continued to work at Alsop’s. In 1959, they bought the Milky Way Dairy in Oskaloosa. Shortly after they purchased the business, they changed the name to Wigg’s Country Store in Oskaloosa. The two of them owned and operated the business until Wiggs’s death in 2011. Lois was a very active member of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa where she served as deaconess, treasurer, office volunteer and as a member of Lydia Circle. She was also a long-time member of P.E.O., King’s Daughters, and a 50 plus year member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She also volunteered many hours at the Hospital and Hospice. Her family includes her three children, Jill (David) Law of Marion, Bill and Carrie Bainbridge of rural New Sharon, and Sue Roberts of Ankeny; six grandchildren, Dr. Stephanie Law (Matt Toner), Dr. William (Ashley) Law, Dr. Emily Roberts (fiancé Collin O’Leary), Katie Roberts, Jenny Roberts, and Leland Bainbridge In addition to her husband, Lois was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Leland and Leo Denburger. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverends Robert and Molly Goodrich officiating. As was Lois’ wish her body will be cremated following the funeral ceremony. Burial of her urn will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Friday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Friday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church.