Lois J. Herwick

Obituary for Lois Jean Barton Herwick

Lois Herwick, age 94, passed away on June 29, 2026. Lois Jean Barton Herwick was born in Barberton, Ohio on January 12, 1932, and was the only child of Ruby and James (Clint) Barton. Lois graduated from Barberton High School in 1950 and attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL, where she graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics. Lois was married to Dr. Charles L. Herwick in 1955 and was a beloved mother of Gary (Trish) Herwick, Richard (Judy) Herwick, Lea Ann Herwick Patrick and Rita Lee Herwick. Lois was a cherished grandmother of Mark, Ritchie and Rachel Herwick and Michael (Emily) Kerr as well as Brandon (Heather) Patrick, Chris Patrick, Erin (Shah Quarashi) Patrick and Sara Patrick. She had 6 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Lois was preceded in death by her ex-husband (Charles Herwick), son (Richard Lee Herwick), daughter (Rita Lee Herwick) and grandchild (Christopher Alan Patrick). Lois managed Herwick’s Floral Shop in Barberton for 40 years until her retirement. She then moved to Lima, OH and finally to Mason, OH to be with her daughter and granddaughters. Lois was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, where she remained active in the choir and various volunteer activities as long as she was able.

Lois was an only child. Sadly, her mother died of heart issues when Lois was just 16 months old. Lois went to stay with her maternal grandmother (Beatrice) and grandfather (Charles Edgar Kepler). Tragically, her grandmother died of a burst appendix when Lois was 18 months old, leaving Lois to be raised by her grandfather and his housekeeper Emma. Despite this sad start, Lois had a very happy childhood. Her grandfather worked at the local match factory and also ran a boarding house. The boarders loved Lois and helped watch over her. One couple was so taken with Lois that they named their first daughter Lois as well. Despite relocating to York, PA, they stayed in touch with Lois throughout their lives.

Lois had a close call in 1939 when her school blew up due to a gas leak while class was in session. 59 1st and 2nd graders were hurt as the school collapsed into the basement. Luckily there were no deaths and Lois made it out unscathed. She had a successful and happy school experience where she was active in the choir and drama club. After graduating from Barberton High School in 1950, Lois attended MacMurray College – an all-girls college located in Illinois.

Lois majored in business administration and music, graduating with honors in 1954. She returned to Ohio to marry her hometown sweetheart – Charles (Chick) Herwick. The happy couple settled in Columbus while Chick finished his degree in veterinary medicine at the Ohio State University. Lois took an administrative job at Dennison Engineering. However, that didn’t last long as she became pregnant with her first child and had her son, Gary, on her first-year wedding anniversary. In those days, a woman was let go from her job when she began having children, so Lois stayed at home with Gary. Once Chick received his graduate degree, the couple relocated back to Barberton to start Chick’s private veterinary practice. After working at a couple of other administrative jobs, Lois took a job as the accounting/payroll manager for the family florist shop (Herwick’s Floral). She and Chick had 3 more children – another boy (Rick) and two girls (Lea Ann and Rita Lee). Sadly, Rita Lee was born with heart issues and only lived 6 weeks after birth.

Lois had married a renaissance man and lived a life that reflected that. The family residence was on one Rex Lake in Summit County. The family enjoyed boating, swimming, fishing and ice skating, as well as raising a menagerie of dogs, cats and other creatures. Later, the family relocated to 9 acres to support a “gentleman’s farm” with horses, gardening, tractors and hunting. Family vacations consisted of hunting and fishing, mostly in remote areas in Kipawa, Quebec Canada that were only accessible by boat and/or portaging on remote trails. This led to many adventures with bears, moose and other wildlife. Lois was the camp organizer and cook, as well as being an outstanding fisherwoman and boater.

In 1998, Lois moved to Lima, Ohio to care for her granddaughters Erin (and later Sara) when Lea Ann went back to work. Besides being a very involved grandma, Lois had always longed to travel the world. She began to fulfill that desire when she went to Hawaii for her 70th birthday. She came back and met a fellow world traveler (and best friend Marie) in Lima. The two of them spent the next 20 years traveling the world – including Mexico, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, England, France, Portugal and many more places both domestic and abroad.

Lois loved creating things through refinishing furniture, knitting, ceramics, crocheting and painting. She loved her dogs, her 1952 MG Convertible, singing in the choir, boating, camping, fishing and travelling. She loved being with people at her church, the senior center and at water aerobics. But most of all, Lois loved being with her family and spending time with her granddaughters. She was always ready for adventure and always had a smile on her face. The world is a better place for having Lois in it and we are so grateful to have had her in our lives for 94 years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to:

The Giving Voice Foundation, Givingvoicefdn.org

Or

Faith Community United Methodist Church, 8230 Cox Rd. West Chester, OH 45069

Or

Hospice of Cincinnati; www.HospiceofCincinnati.org

A memorial service will be held at the Faith Community United Methodist Church on July 11 (Visitation 10-11, service 11-12, reception 12-1). In celebration of Lois’s life, we encourage attendees to dress in colorful, casual summer clothes.

Interment will be at the Manchester Cemetery – New Franklin Township in Manchester Ohio at a later date.