Lois Edna Salituro, age 92, a longtime Hoquiam resident, died on Nov. 29, 2017, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. She was born in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 9, 1925, to John Benjamin and Edna Mae (Brown) Cooper.
The family came to Hoquiam when Lois was just nine months old. She attended Washington Grade School, Hoquiam Junior High and Hoquiam Senior High School, graduating in 1943. She worked at Holcomb Bakery, then had worked as a long distance operator in Aberdeen and then at Fort Lewis. With the troops returning from WWII, she was transferred to South Carolina to help with the increased phone traffic.
She returned to Hoquiam and on April 14, 1947, she and Duane Cleland were married. Duane died in 1975. On July 10, 1976, she and Tino Salituro were married at the Hoquiam Presbyterian Church. Tino died in 2007.
Lois was a civic activist. She had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Post #16 for 54 years and had served as president twice, numerous terms of secretary and was a past district president; she was a member of the American Red Cross; was a 4-H leader for over 15 years, volunteered at Grays Harbor Community Hospital for 25 years and had served as a volunteer director for 7½ years; a member of the Italian Lodge #814 in Aberdeen; member of the Hoquiam Eagles Auxiliary Aerie #252 and was a life member of the Hoquiam Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School classes.
The family enjoyed camping at Lake Quinault, Gray Falls area, the Ho River and Queets areas.
Surviving relatives include a son and daughter-in-law, Leslie Duane Cleland and Bobbie Cleland of Phoenix, Ariz.; a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Waters and Ernie Waters of Klamath Falls, Ore.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded by two brothers, John Howard Cooper and Richard Cooper.
The family suggests that remembrances be made to the Hoquiam Food Bank, P.O. Box 472, Hoquiam, WA 98550.
Visitation will be at the Coleman Mortuary on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at the Coleman Mortuary Chapel in Hoquiam. Interment will follow at Hoquiam’s Sunset Memorial Park.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line guest register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
