Lois grew up in northern New Jersey, where she first learned to love music singing in church. Throughout her schooling, she participated in band, choir, and orchestra. She graduated magna cum laude from Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in 1983 (now Shenandoah University), with degrees in music education and music therapy.

She served for almost 34 years as a middle school band director. She has always been involved in many musical endeavors. In addition to her duties as a band director, she served as a church choir director for 16 years. She was the musical director of 6th Dimension Handbells, an advanced group of ringers who performed in the northern Virginia area for almost 30 years. She absolutely loves playing handbells!

Now in her retirement, Lois still seeks out musical activities to occupy her time. She conducts the Clarke County Community Band, she teaches a few private music lessons to band students, and she sings in two local choral groups (Musica Viva and the Arts Chorale). Along with a friend, she goes to a local assisted living facility twice each month. They lead a hymn sing and also perform some jazz standards; she plays her clarinet and her friend plays piano.