CONCORD --- Lois Ruth Wiggin, 95, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2023, at Havenwood, Concord, NH.
Lois was born in 1928 in Salem Hospital, Salem, MA, to the late Everett and Lucinda Patterson. Lois lived in Beverly, MA, until the winter of 1929, when she relocated to Sanbornton, NH, infant and family making the long drive from Beverly during January in Uncle Fred Hooper’s unheated Model T truck. She grew up in Sanbornton Square as part of the close-knit community, attended the Sanbornton Square School, was a member of the Sanbornton Congregational Church, and Harmony Grange. Lois graduated from Tilton-Northfield High School in 1946.
In 1947 she was employed by New England Telephone Company, Traffic Department, as a switchboard operator, working in the Concord, NH, Franklin, NH, and Conway, NH, offices. An adventurous young woman in her 20’s, she and two companions drove Lois’s 1947 Ford across the US, including over the high passes of the Colorado Rockies in the early 1950’s to Sacramento, CA, where she was then employed by Pacific Bell. Similar road trips included Florida and Texas. Upon returning to NH, she returned to New England Telephone in Laconia, NH, where she spent her career, until retiring from now AT&T in 1985, experiencing telecommunications evolution from ring-down local corded switchboards to full early computerization. Lois was a Life Member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and an inspiration of working motherhood for her daughters in a time of traditionally stay-at-home Moms.
In 1957, Lois married Donald Wiggin. Lois and Donald lived in Laconia, then returned to Sanbornton in 1967 purchasing the 1800’s Parsonage of the Sanbornton Congregational Church, which they spent years extensively restoring and renovating. In 1976, Lois and Donald downsized to a house near lake Winnisquam. They loved their travel trailers, camping, traveling, and classic cars. Lois loved flower gardening, cooking, canning, fashion, monthly Pioneer luncheons with her beloved fellow telephone co-worker “girls”, and attending High School Alumni gatherings for Class of ’46 into her late 80’s. She moved to the Havenwood-Heritage Heights community in 2011.
Lois loved her husband, her children, grandchildren, family, and friends very much. With a compassionate heart, Lois always helped those in need whenever she possibly could.
She is survived by her daughter Nancy, and husband Mark Stephens, of Sanbornton; granddaughter Carlee Stephens, partner Nick Santana, and great-granddaughter Amaya of Franklin; grandson Rory Stephens of Amesbury, MA; daughter Dori and husband Peter Wiggin of Stratham, NH: granddaughter Elenore Wiggin and partner Matthew Lortie of Exeter, NH; sisters Lucile Patten, of Concord, Barbara Chase of New Brunswick, Canada, and Patricia Ingerson of Pembroke, NH. In addition to her parents, Lois was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Donald in 2006, and brother, Maurice Patterson in 2021.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH, using the Carriage House entrance. For those who wish, the family welcomes flowers.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Sanbornton Congregational Church, 21 Meeting House Hill Rd, Sanbornton, NH.
A reception, with light food and refreshments, will follow the service in the reception hall of the church.
Graveside Services will be held on Monday, October 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Union Cemetery, Academy Street, Laconia, NH.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St. Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.