Lois Stites retired as the organist at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Mount Joy on Sept. 29. Stites served at St. Mark's with her musical talents and leadership for 38 years after joining the church staff in 1981.
In addition to playing the organ and piano at St. Mark's, Stites organized special music during the summer months when the choir took a break. Stites also volunteered as bell choir director for the past five years.
Although Stites has retired from her position as organist, she plans to continue to be involved in St. Mark's music program. A special evening to celebrate Stites' ministry to the church will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Gathering Place, 6 Pine St., Mount Joy.
Stites began playing music for church services at the age of 10. Born in Arcanum, Ohio, she grew up near Dayton, Ohio. Stites graduated from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., with a degree in elementary education. Over the years, Stites has collaborated with countless musicians and played for hundreds of weddings and funerals.
A resident of Hershey, Stites previously lived in Elizabethtown for 27 years, where her husband, John Stites, was a professor of music at Elizabethtown College for 30 years until his death in 1998. Stites has three children and four grandchildren.
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