Lois Elaine Thurman

Lois Elaine Hermes Thurman, 89, of Oak Harbor, Ohio, passed away on November 26, 2025, in the care of Magruder Hospital; the same hospital where she began her lifelong career as a nurse.

Lois was born on September 16, 1936, at home in Bay Township outside Oak Harbor to Harley and Gertrude (Gumb) Hermes. A proud graduate of Salem Oak Harbor High School, Class of 1954, she went on to fulfill her calling in nursing at St. Vincent's School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1957. She was honored as the "Nightingale" of her nursing class, a title that spoke to her compassion, dedication, and natural gift for caring for others.

She began her nursing career at Magruder Hospital before being called to serve in Anchorage, Alaska; a place that quickly became woven into her life story. It was in Alaska that she met her husband, Jack W. Thurman, who was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force. Lois lived through the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, a defining moment in Alaskan history. She earned her Private Pilot License in the early 1970s and proudly completed her first solo flight, later flying her family across the vast Alaskan landscapes and on visits back home to Ohio. She also enjoyed working part-time at Jewels of the North, a jewelry and gift shop that suited her appreciation for beauty and craftsmanship.

Life as a military spouse took Lois and her family across the country, including Tennessee, Texas, Alaska, Florida, and Kansas. She stepped away from nursing while raising her daughter but later returned to the profession she loved. In the later years of her career, she found special fulfillment caring for children with special needs.

Lois' creativity and eye for detail shone through in the beautiful nativity scenes she crafted from fabric and jewelry. She loved visiting estate sales, collecting crystal, glass, and artwork, and was known for her enjoyment in setting a beautiful table. A devoted Texas A&M football fan, she attended countless games with her family. A proud American, Lois was a steadfast supporter of veterans and was rarely seen without her beloved American flag earrings-always keeping an extra pair in her purse to share with others.

Lois returned to Oak Harbor in 2021, where she spent her remaining years close to her roots.

She is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Larry McColm) Thurman; her sisters, Helen Mae Mack, Marcella Ann Besel, and Barbara Ellen Hermes; brother-in-law, William "Bill" Smitherman; nieces and nephews, Gerald (Liz) Dreier, Kevin Hermes, Ellen Mack, Julie Fontana, Tyson (Jessica) Smitherman, and Justin (Shannon) Smitherman; and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents; her siblings, Evelyn Jane Dreier and Francis Eugene Hermes; and her niece, Nancy Dreier-Zwiebel.

Visitation for Lois will be Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 2-8 p.m. at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, 165 E. Water St., Oak Harbor, OH with a Nurses Honor Guard Ceremony held at 6:30 p.m. and a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, December 5, 2025 by Fr. Zach Brown at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 215 N. Church St., Oak Harbor, OH where the body will lie in state one hour prior to the services. Interment will take place at Salem Township - Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Boniface Catholic Church or to an organization of the donor's choice.