Lola M. (Black) Parton-Wold, 87, died June 10, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida, due to complications from injuries sustained while hospitalized for kidney-related issues.
A Celebration of Life & Praise Service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 at her childhood church, Living Hope Church of God, 406 N. Main St., in Carrier Mills. her ashes will then be interred at Salem Cemetery.
Lola was born March 27, 1932 to George Washington and Blanch Irene Black. She lived a life of generosity and stories.
Stumbling into covert government service soon after she and her newlywed husband Robert Parton (deceased) moved away from southern Illinois, she helped shape an early predecessor to the Department of Homeland Security until well into the 1960s. She never did say how or when she met Dwight Eisenhower, but he remained her favorite president for over 60 years (although she was known to relish answering "Trump!" with a big smile when doctors or nurses asked if she knew who the president was).
She was a woman who knew trials and losses; a child, breast cancer, spouses and family connections.
While she was known to "offer" direction here and there, some of the more noteworthy lessons can be gleaned from how Lola lived life. Like when life's highway is taking you in the "way wrong" direction, don't be afraid to use on-ramps as off-ramps. Bullies are not a protected class (she never hesitated to step into a situation and make that clear to men twice her size). Cubic zirconium are just as sparkly as diamonds, so make sure you're getting good diamonds. They have a strength and hardness fakes don't have. There is no disagreement within a family that should be bigger than love for each other, if you think there is ... love more!
For the last 30-plus years she helped her second husband, Tom Wold, run a successful real estate investment business until he passed just after Christmas 2016. Few people who knew them can remember much if anything they agreed on, but there is no doubt to how much they loved and cared for one another.
Despite her worldly successes, she was most proud of her family, her whole family: brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, son, grandkids and great-grandkids. She is survived by her three sisters, Barb, Nina and Phyllis; four brothers, John, Paul, David and Samuel; her son, Rich; three grandchildren, Nicole, Lauren and Jonathan; and four really great-grandchildren.
All who knew and loved Lola are invited to her celebration. Please consider donations to either Salem Cemetery or Living Hope Church of God in lieu of flowers, and send a card or note to someone you love and let them know they are special to you and their Heavenly Father.
Oh, and you don't have to limit yourself to just one note!
