Lola Jane Story FINCH

1933 - 2017

FINCH, Lola Jane Story
(Age 84)

Lola Jane Story Finch, a long time respected member of the Pullman community, died at home Nov. 5, 2017 of natural causes. Lola was born in Pullman on Feb. 21, 1933 to Lloyd and Phylma Story also of Pullman. Lola grew up on the family farm which was always special to her, particularly the canyon land on the Snake River breaks, a beautiful place that is treasured by her family and many friends. Lola met her husband-to-be, Howard, in Junior High School. They married prior to their graduation at Washington State College. Lola graduated with honors from WSC with a degree in Home Economics. Following their graduation from WSC in 1955, Lola followed Howard when he served two years in the US Army in Virginia and Colorado until they returned to Pullman to stay in 1958.

After her kids started school, Lola worked for Pac-8 Commissioner Jack Friel. In 1969 she went to work at WSU as a Financial Aid counselor, the beginning of a long and distinguished career at the university. She went back to college and completed her Master's Degree in Education in 1973. In 1995 she retired from WSU as the Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid. During her career she enjoyed helping many of the first multi-cultural students to come to WSU. They were often homesick and on campus without enough money. She brought them home for family dinners and was referred to as "Mom" by many of them. She was instrumental in creating numerous scholarships and credited for taking a department providing aid to a handful of students to a ninety-million dollar aid and scholarship program.

As a student she was active in her sorority, Phi Beta Phi, and remained so as an alumnae serving as a national officer, Provence President and chapter advisor. She was very active in service to the financial aid profession in a variety of organizations. Her career included a Congressional appointment to an Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid, past President and Lifetime membership in the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators and the Washington Association of Financial Aid Administrators, the National Advisory Board to Sallie Mae, Education Assistance Foundation/ College Smart, the College Scholarship Service, and the Washington State University Merit Scholarship Committee. She was awarded the WSU Alumni Achievement Award in 2004.

Lola and Howard were loyal Cougar fans, seen frequently at football, women's and men's basketball games and were active in the Alumni Association. She was active in P.E.O., Chapter D.W. of Pullman, in several women's bridge groups, played with the tennis club, and in recent years was seen frequently with her coffee group at the Daily Grind. She volunteered on the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation board co-chairing a major fundraising campaign and remained active in the hospital auxiliary until the end of her life. Following a nomination by grandsons Kyle and Mickey, Lola was touched as she received a marker for Howard and her on Pullman's Walk of Fame.

Lola had numerous close friends and extended family members and treasured each of them. She had a passion for living life to its fullest. She had a big smile and often a special connection with everyone she met. She touched many lives and made a real difference a lot of them. She will be missed by many.

Survivors include her three children, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren: Jackie (Jim Jepsen) Finch of Oak Park, IL, their daughter Kristin (Chris Bakkedahl) and their children Shelby, Fednia, CJ, and Caleb; their son Curtis (Mandy) and their children Kenna and Cooper; Rick (Kris) Finch of Pullman, their children Cody, Mickey, Katie, and Colin; and Rob Finch also of Pullman and his children Kyle and Jayneanne. She is also survived by her beloved dog "Bear." Lola enjoyed a very special relationship with each of her grandchildren. Her influence with them was and will continue to be instrumental in helping them succeed in life. She was preceded in death by her childhood sweetheart and husband of 59 years, Howard Finch, her parents, numerous cousins and many dear friends.

At Lola's request, she was cremated. A celebration of Lola's amazing life will be held at Banyan's Pavilion in Pullman on February 17, 2018. It will be open to all who are able to attend from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.

As a tribute to Lola's strong beliefs in the need for higher education for people, the family is setting up a scholarship in Lola's name at WSU. Anyone wishing to contribute may send a gift to: The WSU Foundation, In Memory of Lola Finch, c/o the College of Education, P.O. Box 642114, Pullman, WA 99163 or by contacting Mark Dinges, Asst. Director of Development at (509) 335-7232 or mdinges@wsu.edu.