Obituary for Elaine Darden Wizda (Lohr)
Elaine Darden (Lohr) Wizda, 79, passed away Feb. 6, 2022, with family by her side at Dove House in Westminster. She waged a courageous months-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born July 10, 1942, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Ashland, Va., she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mildred (Jones) Lohr. She was the beloved wife of Andrew Wizda. They shared 38 years of marriage full of adventure, love, and true partnership. She adored traveling as a couple and with family or friends -- especially to "the water's edge" -- and never missed an opportunity to listen to music or hit the dance floor.
An avid reader and lover of the arts, she also enjoyed watching sports, from pro teams on television to her grandchildren's games. Elaine loved spending time with her large group of friends old and new, and was a proud member of the Fubettes and ANA. Soaking up time with her grandchildren was a particular delight. She drew strength from her faith and her belief in a higher power.
Elaine had an early passion for teaching and learning. She earned her bachelor's degree in math education from Longwood College in Virginia and her master's degree from Loyola University in Maryland. Over the course of her long career in education, she would teach math at numerous schools in Maryland and Texas, including Centennial High School in Columbia and North Carroll High School in Hampstead, where she retired in 2006.
Her gift for teaching also led her to serve as a math consultant to the Maryland and Texas state departments of education, as well as president of the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics. President Reagan honored her in Washington, D.C., with a national award for excellence in math education, and she was a director of Maryland's residential summer programs at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) for gifted and talented students in elementary through high school. Without fail, she also shepherded each of her daughters and grandchildren through their more challenging math assignments.
Survivors in addition to her husband include her daughters and their families: Theresa Alfano and partner Lou Stetka of Laurel, Susan and Craig Nelson of Sykesville, Sharyn and Mark Vane of Texas, and Angela and Gene Zepp of Westminster. Survivors also include her adored grandchildren Josh (Amanda) and Griffin Haarer (Allie); Thomas Nelson; Eddie and Sam Vane; and Olivia, Cecelia and Sophia Zepp; her brother Michael Lohr (Shiela) of Williamsburg, Va.; and nieces Sherri Lohr (Mary McDonough) and Cindy Hamilton (Rich) of Florida. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her stepfather, Rupert Hicks. She was previously married to Thomas Alfano, Jr.
The family will greet mourners beginning at 1 p.m. and have a short memorial service at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home, 1212 West Old Liberty Rd., Winfield. Please see burrier-queen.com for service streaming information. A Celebration of Life is tentatively planned for July 10, which would have been her 80th birthday. Further details will be available soon.
In lieu of flowers or food, memorial contributions may be made in Elaine's name to Dove House (https://www.bridginglifecare.org/BridgingLife/Inpatient-Hospice-Care.aspx#Dove) or the V Foundation (www.v.org), founded by the late Coach Jimmy Valvano to raise funds for cancer research.
Born July 10, 1942, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Ashland, Va., she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mildred (Jones) Lohr. She was the beloved wife of Andrew Wizda. They shared 38 years of marriage full of adventure, love, and true partnership. She adored traveling as a couple and with family or friends -- especially to "the water's edge" -- and never missed an opportunity to listen to music or hit the dance floor.
An avid reader and lover of the arts, she also enjoyed watching sports, from pro teams on television to her grandchildren's games. Elaine loved spending time with her large group of friends old and new, and was a proud member of the Fubettes and ANA. Soaking up time with her grandchildren was a particular delight. She drew strength from her faith and her belief in a higher power.
Elaine had an early passion for teaching and learning. She earned her bachelor's degree in math education from Longwood College in Virginia and her master's degree from Loyola University in Maryland. Over the course of her long career in education, she would teach math at numerous schools in Maryland and Texas, including Centennial High School in Columbia and North Carroll High School in Hampstead, where she retired in 2006.
Her gift for teaching also led her to serve as a math consultant to the Maryland and Texas state departments of education, as well as president of the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics. President Reagan honored her in Washington, D.C., with a national award for excellence in math education, and she was a director of Maryland's residential summer programs at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) for gifted and talented students in elementary through high school. Without fail, she also shepherded each of her daughters and grandchildren through their more challenging math assignments.
Survivors in addition to her husband include her daughters and their families: Theresa Alfano and partner Lou Stetka of Laurel, Susan and Craig Nelson of Sykesville, Sharyn and Mark Vane of Texas, and Angela and Gene Zepp of Westminster. Survivors also include her adored grandchildren Josh (Amanda) and Griffin Haarer (Allie); Thomas Nelson; Eddie and Sam Vane; and Olivia, Cecelia and Sophia Zepp; her brother Michael Lohr (Shiela) of Williamsburg, Va.; and nieces Sherri Lohr (Mary McDonough) and Cindy Hamilton (Rich) of Florida. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her stepfather, Rupert Hicks. She was previously married to Thomas Alfano, Jr.
The family will greet mourners beginning at 1 p.m. and have a short memorial service at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Burrier-Queen Funeral Home, 1212 West Old Liberty Rd., Winfield. Please see burrier-queen.com for service streaming information. A Celebration of Life is tentatively planned for July 10, which would have been her 80th birthday. Further details will be available soon.
In lieu of flowers or food, memorial contributions may be made in Elaine's name to Dove House (https://www.bridginglifecare.org/BridgingLife/Inpatient-Hospice-Care.aspx#Dove) or the V Foundation (www.v.org), founded by the late Coach Jimmy Valvano to raise funds for cancer research.