LOIS ELAINE ELKINS (later MULLINS, eventually SILLING) entered the world on July 18, 1933 just before the nationwide Depression. But to hear her tell her childhood, it was magical thanks to her parents: Seibert Elkins (an entrepreneur in laundry and ice cream businesses) and Retha Myers Elkins (a home- and happiness-maker and saver of even the shortest pencils).
Lois was the fourth of five siblings (Ernest, Carl, Jean, and Lyndal) and the last of them to pass.
Her first marriage gave her three children: Richard Mullins, Mark Mullins, and Amy Mullins (Sharp). Through Rick’s marriage to Marcia Sullivan and Amy’s to Tom Sharp, Lois gained seven grandchildren: David Mullins, Ann Mullins (Bryant), Joel Mullins, Bethany Sharp, Moriah Sharp (Samuel), Esther Sharp, and Ethan Sharp, and an expanding list of great-grandchildren.
In 1974, Lois married Robert Lee Silling, and was devoted to him till his death in 2011.
Lois was a reliable advocate and steady support for various relatives as they went through nursing home and hospital stays—making regular visits with gifts or requested items, fluffing pillows, and applying her shrewd eye to the goings-on. She was never one to shy away from a confrontation if something didn’t make sense to her or she thought a situation could be better.
She took great joy in expressing her love for others through encouraging words, generous giving, and acts of service--especially for her church, family, and extended circle of friends
Throughout her life, she retained a childlike amazement that could make any trip last much longer than you'd expect, if you didn’t budget for her stopping and saying “My lands! How did they—?” at least 100x.
She kept inscrutable notes and newspaper clippings around her house, as if she was investigating the world or trying to solve it like one of her crossword puzzles. Always one to strike a line through a wrong word or an extraneous item, she jotted a funeral note on a pad beside her bed that simply read, “none of their cars.”
Her parting line to every loved one was, “watch out for the crazies.” She meant, watch out for the people who don’t know to watch out for you. She meant: you be aware because others may not be. She meant it for driving, but it applies all around.
It’s strange to think she won’t be clipping this obituary, like she did so many others, and bringing it to us, saying, “I saw this in the paper. Didn’t you know her?”
Yes, we did know her, as well as we could. For 92 years, she gifted us with her curiosity, her editor’s eye, her awe.
Well done and thank you, Granny, Mother, Lois.
We will keep watch (and notes).
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at the Wallace Funeral Home & Chapel, Barboursville. Burial will be in Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday prior to the service. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.
