Lois Virginia Ludlow (née Aders), 96, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2026, in Traverse City surrounded by the love of a family she spent a lifetime nurturing. Born on August 25, 1929, in Montezuma Indiana, Lois lived a life as rich and varied as the many places she called home — from Bermuda to Virginia, Illinois to Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. Lois spent a long and rewarding retirement at a cherished lakeside home in Columbus, IN with her beloved husband, Ed.

Lois' journey truly blossomed at Indiana University, where she was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She was also member of Indiana's Little 500 race founding committee and was honored as Homecoming Queen in 1950 — a distinction that spoke to the warmth and grace that would define her all her life. It was there, too, that she met a young man named Ed Ludlow, beginning a love story that would span 73 years, a continent, and a family that grew to fill every room she ever entered.

Lois was above all else, devoted — to Ed, to her children, and to every grandchild and great-grandchild lucky enough to know her warm embrace. She was famous for her hugs and for the fresh cookies that seemed to appear like magic whenever guests arrived. At the lake, she and Ed opened their home to family and friends year after year. It was there that many young ones learned to swim, ski, and fish under her watchful and loving eye.

Beyond her family, Lois gave generously of her time through volunteer work in the communities she called home, including Orchard Place in Des Moines. She brought that same spirit of energy and adventure to the Wakonda tennis court and to her travels alongside Ed. She was the kind of woman who made every room warmer and every visit memorable.

Lois was preceded in passing by her parents Freida and O.M. Aders, and brother Robert Aders.

Lois is survived by her husband, Edmund Ludlow; her children, Mark Ludlow, Lynn Aleksov, and Jim Ludlow; her grandchildren, Alexander Ludlow, Madison Ludlow, Mackenzie Deutschman, Kathryn Aleksov, and Scott Ludlow; and her great-grandchildren, Kiera Deutschman, Micah Deutschman, Oliver Ludlow, Emerson Ludlow, Benjamin Ludlow, and Wilson Ludlow-Albrecht. She was preceded in death by a lifetime of quiet acts of kindness that will echo through her family for generations to come.

A service celebrating Lois' life will be announced by the family at a later date.