Lois Anne Benton

1931 - 2025

Lois Anne Benton

January 9, 1931 - August 11, 2025

State College, Pennsylvania - Lois Anne (Baldwin) Benton, age 94 of State College, Pa passed away on August 11, 2025 at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Born on January 9, 1931 in Milford, Ct. and adopted 10 days later by Celia and Robert Baldwin. She was a graduate of Orange Grammar School during which time she was active in 4H, Girl Scouts, playing the piano and riding her bike.

In 1949, she graduated with honors from Hillhouse High School in New Haven. She attended the University of Connecticut where she graduated in June 1954 with a BS and RN. During her time there, she met Allen W. Benton and they married on June 19, 1954. Together they went to Albany, Ga where Allen was in the Air Force. Upon his honorable discharge, they moved to Willimantic, Connecticut where Lois worked as a pediatric nurse at the hospital. Their first and second sons were born there. They also resided in Hampton, Ct where she was the town librarian and she introduced a children's reading program at the local school. Their third son was born in New Haven, Ct while Allen worked towards his PHD at Cornell University in New York. While there, she worked at the Albert Mann Library and she especially loved time spent with her three boys. After a brief year at Ithaca, they left for Penn State University. They joined St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Lois was an active member of the Ladies Group. She was also a Cub Scout mother, a member of the Faculty Wives Club, Embroiderer's Guild and a quilt making group. Sports were a big part of her sons' lives and she was always there to cheer them on. Lois was a big fan of Penn State football, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Connecticut woman's basketball team and remained so throughout her life.

Following her husband's dream, they bought a farm in Spring Mills, which became dear to her heart. Together, they raised sheep, cows, guinea hens, rabbits, chickens and over 200 colonies of honey bees scattered throughout Centre County. Aside from farming and a big garden, there was time to be on the library board in Aaronsburg. Next to the farm they built Vespa Labs after Allen developed a serum for desensitizing people allergic to bees. Here, Lois was his right hand and together they traveled to bee apiaries in Germany, France and England. In 1986, Allen retired and they moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland where Lois had more time for quilting, embroidering and having family come to visit. After six years in Maryland, they returned to Pennsylvania.

In 2004, Allen passed away while they were living in Boalsburg and Lois moved to Foxdale Village Retirement Community. Lois enjoyed many wonderful years at Foxdale and became a staff favorite. Lois is survived by her son Rob and his partner Luann, her son Garth and his wife Ginger, her son Clay and his wife Donna, ten grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, who all loved her dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at Foxdale Village.

Lois loved all of her dogs so in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Centre County PAWS.

Online condolences may be shared at www.kochfuneralhome.com