Edna Lovitt

Edna Louise (Pingel) Lovitt passed away at Sterling House, Wednesday, July 29th, 2015 at the age of 90. Cremation has taken place and the memorial service will be held at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 630 S. Eisenhower Dr., Junction City, Inurnment will follow at Fort Riley Post Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday, August 9th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Chapel, 805 Caroline Avenue, Junction City, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be given to either the Immanuel Lutheran Church or the JunctionCity Association of Retired School Personnel.

Edna was born on March 14, 1925 in Madison, South Dakota, to Edward and Mildred (Riedemann) Pingel of Lake Preston, South Dakota. Edna graduated from Lake Preston High School and then attended General Beadle College in Madison, South Dakota where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Education. Her first teach job was in Howard, South Dakota.

Edna married Clyde L. Lovitt of Watuauga, South Dakota on June 5th, 1949. In 1951, Clyde and Edna were stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and from March 5th 1952 to February 1955, 3 of 4 children, Linda, David, and Steven were born. In 1956, the family was reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington, where they were blessed with their 4th child, Kevin.

During the tour in Washington, Edna returned to teaching and in 1963 the family was sent to Germany where Edna continued to teach. In the summers Edna enjoyed traveling around Europe and also loved being a den mother for her boys
scouting troops in addition to sewing dance costumes for her daughter. The family was reassigned to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1966 where she continued to teach in several schools on and off post. In 1969 the family moved to Junction City and Edna continued to teach while obtaining 2 Masters Degrees in Education from Kansas State University. In 1986 Edna retired due to the health of her parents. Edna loved her sorority sisters and was a charter member of Kappa Kappa lota sorority since 1969. Her favorite flower was the purple violet, the sorority flower.

Edna is survived by her children, Linda L. Lovitt Johnson and husband Curtis, Junction City, Kansas, David L. Lovitt and wife Delene of Oklahoma City, OK, Steven L. Lovitt, Henderson, NV., and Kevin L. Lovitt and wife Patti of Oklahoma City, OK. There are 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who will miss their mentor, Edna. Cousin Roger and wife Beverly Kraft of Madison, South Dakota, Sister-in-Law, Violet Wenck and husband Leonard, of Spearfish, South Dakota, Brother-in-Law, Duane Lovitt of Apache Junction, AZ, Sister-in-Law, Millie Lovitt of Oakdale, MN and Brother-in-Law, Willie Lovitt of Spearfish, South Dakota.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde, July 3, 2007, her parents, Edward and Mildred Pingel, and step-brother, Dennis Pingel, who was killed in action in the Southwest Pacific during 1944 and step-father Ben A. Buer.