Louise Lythgoe Obituary

Louise Mercedes
Ojea Lythgoe
AIKEN, SC - Louise
Mercedes Ojea Lythgoe, passed away Thursday, June 11, 2015.
She was born on October 26, 1939 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Louise attended Catholic schools in Miami and graduated from Miami High School then earning a business degree from the University of Miami-one of the very few women to earn a degree at that time. She worked for the Girl Scouts of America as an executive responsible for training and managing volunteers in Miami, The Keys, and Coconut Grove. Louise married Michael Lythgoe, a 2nd Lt. in the USAF at the Homestead AFB Chapel in April of 1964.
She is the mother of two sons, Michael and Christopher, both born in Spain.
Louise supported her husband in his 24 year Air Force career, living in Spain, South Bend, Indiana while Mike earned his MA at the University of Notre Dame; she lived in Miami with their sons when her husband served in Vietnam in 1971.
They lived in Manassas, VA, Syracuse, NY (hosting her husbands' AFROTC students at Syracuse University). They also lived in London, UK, where her sons attended British schools, Key West where she led several officers' wives clubs. Louise hosted visitors to support her husbands' role as Director of Intelligence in a Joint Staff-COMUSFORCARIB.
Louise was a volunteer providing support to Navy Relief at the Navy Base in Key West-where she earned commendations for assisting families needing support-even though she was an Air Force wife. She organized blood drives and assisted social workers.
In 1987 she reentered the work force as a vision therapist in Manassas, VA, later working as the Director of Admissions/Public Relations for an assisted living facility in Manassas also. She took on additional responsibility leading therapy and recreation activities for residents in several nursing homes in Virginia, supported many residents and families whose loved ones suffered with Alzheimers.
Louise trained as an interpreter for the courts at the University of Maryland. She later worked as the Spanish interpreter for the City of Manassas Park, VA as part of a team in the Department of Social Services.
In retirement, she moved to Aiken, SC in 2004 with her husband, Mike and volunteered with him to serve on a curriculum committee for Life Long Learning at USCA in Aiken. She selected courses and attended classes, taught conversational Spanish for the Academy for Life Long Learning.
Louise took her mother into her home and cared for her until her mother's death two years after her mother moved to Aiken to live in the Lythgoe's home.
Louise enjoyed dancing, Latin music and the theater. She helped with concerts performed by the Aiken Choral Society. She loved to play board games with her 3 granddaughters. She also loved to play mahjongg. Louise loved dogs; over the years she had a Labrador and a golden retriever. She was active in a garden club in Haymarket,VA -until she relocated to Aiken. She entered flower arranging contests and transferred plants to Aiken.
Louise and her husband were active parishioners at St. Mary Help of Christian's parish in Aiken. Both supported the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Louise supported the Legion of Mary.
Louise is survived by her husband Col. Michael Hugh Lythgoe, USAF, Retired; son, Michael Anthony Lythgoe, Longmont, CO; granddaughter, Corinne Lythgoe, Celeste Lythgoe and Calista all from Superior, CO; son, Christopher Hugh Lythgoe (Lynn), Mechanicsville, VA; cousin, Sandy Lloveras, Clearwater, FL.
A Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 9 AM in the old St. Mary's Help of Christians Catholic Church, Park Ave, with Father Art Dalupang celebrant. A reception will follow in the church hall adjacent to the church. Interment will follow in Ft. Jackson National Cemetery, Columbia, SC.
A prayer vigil for the deceased will be held at 6 PM Monday evening at George's Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the vigil until 8 PM.
In lieu of flowers send donations in her honor to St. Vincent de Paul Society care of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, PO Box 438, Aiken, SC 29802 or to Paws For Purple Hearts, PO Box 9288, Pueblo, CO 81008-9288.
The Historic George Funeral Home, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234) in charge of arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy for
the Lythgoe family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com