Virginia L. "Loris" Carothers

1925 - 2018

On November 28, 2018 angels arrived to escort Loris Carothers to heaven. Upon arrival, she was greeted by her husband, Rev. Grant Carothers; her parents, Floyd and Nellie Hibbs; her brother, Holbert; and most importantly, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Loris was born August 16, 1925 in Morgantown, WV. She grew up during the Great Depression and embraced the values of faith, family, integrity and hard work. She taught her children these same values and modeled them throughout her life. She graduated from Ashland College in 1947. On June 11, 1949, Loris married Grant Carothers. As a pastor's wife, she served with him in Montgomery, IL; Justus, OH; Akron, OH, and finally, Lorain, OH. As a professional educator, Loris taught in the Ashland, Akron, and Lorain City School Systems. She retired in June 1984. Education was important to Loris, and each of her children graduated from college - three of whom graduated with advanced degrees. Loris lived a full life. She had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel with family and friends. She was a prolific basketball fan and held season tickets to Florida Gulf University basketball games with her son, Doug. She attended several marathons to support her son, Dan. She was ever present in the passenger seat of her daughter Deb's car for "road trips." Prior to moving to Florida full time, she would spend several months each winter with David and Karen. She attended numerous sporting events to support her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She competed in Tampa's annual Gasparilla 5K until she was 90 years old, and rode a camel with her granddaughter and two of her great-granddaughters for the first time at the age of 91. When she moved to Florida, she created a new circle of friends and participated in church activities and a book club. Loris was a long standing member of the Lorain Lighthouse United Methodist Church. She left her family with a treasure chest of happy memories created on the foundation of a firm faith and tough, "can do" optimism. Loris is survived by her four adult children: David/Karen, of Lithia, FL; Deborah, of Lithia, FL; Daniel, of Riverside, CA; and Douglas, of Alva, FL; along with three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Interment services will be in Circleville, OH at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Ideas c/o Carol Matthews, 1524 South Lakeview Blvd., Lorain, OH 44052, or to the Praxiom Cares Foundation, 123 West Bloomingdale Ave., #300, Brandon, FL 33511.