Lois Elaine Madison collection

Lois Elaine Madison was born March 18, 1925, in Columbus, Ohio and passed away on June 11, 2000, in Miami, Florida. Born in a Catholic hospital, she had to remain in the hospital for a few months and the Nuns named her “Dolly” after Dolly Madison, the wife of fourth President, James Madison. The nickname stuck, and she preferred to be called "Dolly" throughout her life.

Lois graduated Circleville High School, Circleville, OH in 1942, attended Muskingum College (1942-1944) and worked at Container Corporation of America in Circleville, Ohio from June 1944 to May 1945 as an Assistant Chemist.  She enlisted in the USNR WAVES on March 18, 1945 and entered service on May 17, 1945. She trained at the U.S. Naval Training School, WR, (Hunter College), Bronx, NY. She was then reassigned to the US Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, NJ on July 31, 1945, to attend Aerographer Mate's training school which graduated on October 26, 1945.  Upon completing her training, she subsequently transferred to US Naval Air Station, Anacostia, D.C.  as an Aerographer’s Mate Second Class,  and honorably discharged July 8, 1946.

Upon returning home, she attended and graduated from Ohio State University in 1950.  While at Ohio State University she met Harold McDevitt Bainbridge in a book line at Long's Book Store on High Street across from the OSU campus. Lois and Harold subsequently married in Circlevile, OH in 1947. Harold McDevitt Bainbridge was born and raised in Mingo Junction, OH.  He served in the United States Army during WWII.  Through the GI Bill, Harold was able to attend college upon returning from the war.  Upon graduation from Ohio State University, he worked for Amour Company, Dial Corporation, and Polaroid Corporation in sales and marketing, retiring after thirty years with Polaroid.

Lois also graduated from St. James School of Medical Technology in Chicago Heights, IL on January 10, 1961.  She became an ASCP Board Certified Medical Technologist working at Coral Gables Veterans Hospital, the Air Force Hospital at  Homestead Air Force Base and Larkin General Hospital in South Miami from 1962-1988 where she retired.

Loving mother of Mark Robert and Gayle Ann Bainbridge, Lois served as Mark’s Cub Scout Den Mother and leader of Gayle’s Brownie Troup. She was devoted to her children and encouraged them to seek higher education with Mark graduating with a BS and Master of Accounting from Florida State University and Gayle graduating with a BA from Florida International University.  She was always there for her children when they needed her.

As a young lady, she enjoyed athletics, playing tennis, basketball, and volleyball. In later years she played bridge and loved to travel, loved her dogs, her music, especially Classical, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She enjoyed her garden, planting trees and a vegetable garden every winter. After retirement, she served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Anne’s Nursing Home and Baptist Hospital in Miami, FL.

Note written by Mark Bainbridge (son) and Gayle Bainbridge (daughter)