Lois Elaine Dokken

Lois E. Dokken, 83, died at home in Falls Church on April 26, 2025, succumbing to fallopian tube cancer after a long and courageous fight.
Mrs. Dokken worked for the U.S. Government for 23 years, starting out with the Federal Civil Defense Administration in Battle Creek, Michigan, before transferring to Washington, DC, in the early 1960s to work at the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. She married her husband of 44 years, James P. Dokken, in 1962, then undertook the more challenging role of raising three boys before returning to Federal service in 1982. She worked at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the Directorate of Operations (DO), initially in the Central American Task Force then on to the East Asia Division. She served overseas on three 3-year assignments – in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Mexico City, Mexico; and Vienna, Austria – assuming more responsibility with each posting. Her work was recognized with multiple awards, 22 in all, including Exceptional Performance Awards, Special Achievement Awards, and the DO Secretary of the Year Award twice (1989 and 1997) and capped by a Career Clandestine Service medal. She retired from the CIA in 2001 to care for her ailing husband.
Mrs. Dokken was an active member of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church for 56 years. She was the church secretary (1978-1981) and held many lay leadership roles such as Elder, moderator of the Board of Deacons, Chair and Vice Chair of the Personnel Committee, Chair of the Parish Life and Care Committee, and (co-)founder of targeted social groups. She fostered inclusion and belonging where she lived, worked, and worshiped.
A service to celebrate Lois Dokken will be held on June 21, 2025, 11 a.m., at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, 1724 Chain Bridge Road, in McLean. It will also be streamed at https://www.lewinsville.org/funerals-memorial-services/. Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Lewinsville Presbyterian Church Foundation at the same address.
Survivors include three sons, Tim Dokken of Falls Church, David Dokken of Arlington, and Mark Dokken of Front Royal; their spouses; five grandchildren; and her partner of the past 8 years, Roy Mitchell.