Lola Emerson
March 27, 1936 ~ May 19, 2022
Lola Grey (Ashley) Emerson of Vienna, Virginia, died on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at The Virginian in Fairfax, Virginia. Lola was born on March 27, 1936 in Green Cove, Virginia (Washington, County in southwest Virginia). Lola was the seventh of eight children born to Robert Meek Ashley and Nellie Myrtle (Walton) Ashley.
Lola attended Konnarock School (Konnarock, Virginia – 1st through 11th grade). She was the homecoming queen in her junior year, as well as a cheerleader, plus being a member of the Choral and 4-H Clubs. She attended Damascus High School (Damascus, Virginia) her senior year, graduating in June 1954. She was the vice-president of the senior class, as well as being a member of the 4-H, Sports, Drama, and Glee Clubs.
Upon graduation, Lola moved to Fairfax, Virginia to live with her brother, Norman, and his wife, Virginia. She began her seventeen-year career at Arlington Hall Station where she worked for the U.S. Army Security Agency. Her hard work was rewarded and she was promoted to work for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Telecommunications, as the Administrative Supervisor, until she became a stay-at-home mother and homemaker when her youngest son, Billy, was born in April 1971. Lola and Bill enjoyed antiques of all kinds and they formed a partnership with Bud and Mae Laedtke, the owners of Village Antiques in Vienna. Lola and Bill’s business was called The Blue Ridge Company. In addition to “smalls,” copper items, Boyd’s Bears, wooden toys, jewelry, etc., they were authorized sellers of paintings and prints for well-known Winchester, Virginia artist, David Knowlton.
Lola and Bill were married on Sunday, July 28, 1963, in Arlington, Virginia. The Emerson family lived in Falls Church until moving to Vienna in May 1967. Lola lived in Vienna until her death.
Lola grew up in a Christian home in which church, family, and friends were very important. The values she learned at home as a child formed her life and character, making her the remarkable person she was.
Lola enjoyed collecting and displaying antique canning jars and bottles of all sorts and descriptions; writing prose; and flower and plant gardening (English Ivy, Coleus, Hydrangeas, and Azaleas).
Lola was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Lola is survived by her son Mike Sr. of Hillsboro, Virginia (Sherry), son Billy of Vienna, Virginia (Lisa); seven grandchildren in chronological age: Kerri (Sean), Michael Jr. (Emily), Kristin (Reid), Amanda, Darien, Haley, and William IV; two greatgrandchildren, Marcie and Rhys; plus, many nieces, nephews, and friends. Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Bill (2021), son, John (2013), as well as her parents and all seven siblings and their spouses.
A “giving thanks to the Lord for Lola” service will be in the chapel at Money and King Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 24th at 7:00 p.m.
Bill and Lola will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 3:00pm.
The Emerson family wishes to thank the staff at The Virginian and Vitas Hospice for their “personal touch” care.
Lola attended Konnarock School (Konnarock, Virginia – 1st through 11th grade). She was the homecoming queen in her junior year, as well as a cheerleader, plus being a member of the Choral and 4-H Clubs. She attended Damascus High School (Damascus, Virginia) her senior year, graduating in June 1954. She was the vice-president of the senior class, as well as being a member of the 4-H, Sports, Drama, and Glee Clubs.
Upon graduation, Lola moved to Fairfax, Virginia to live with her brother, Norman, and his wife, Virginia. She began her seventeen-year career at Arlington Hall Station where she worked for the U.S. Army Security Agency. Her hard work was rewarded and she was promoted to work for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Telecommunications, as the Administrative Supervisor, until she became a stay-at-home mother and homemaker when her youngest son, Billy, was born in April 1971. Lola and Bill enjoyed antiques of all kinds and they formed a partnership with Bud and Mae Laedtke, the owners of Village Antiques in Vienna. Lola and Bill’s business was called The Blue Ridge Company. In addition to “smalls,” copper items, Boyd’s Bears, wooden toys, jewelry, etc., they were authorized sellers of paintings and prints for well-known Winchester, Virginia artist, David Knowlton.
Lola and Bill were married on Sunday, July 28, 1963, in Arlington, Virginia. The Emerson family lived in Falls Church until moving to Vienna in May 1967. Lola lived in Vienna until her death.
Lola grew up in a Christian home in which church, family, and friends were very important. The values she learned at home as a child formed her life and character, making her the remarkable person she was.
Lola enjoyed collecting and displaying antique canning jars and bottles of all sorts and descriptions; writing prose; and flower and plant gardening (English Ivy, Coleus, Hydrangeas, and Azaleas).
Lola was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Lola is survived by her son Mike Sr. of Hillsboro, Virginia (Sherry), son Billy of Vienna, Virginia (Lisa); seven grandchildren in chronological age: Kerri (Sean), Michael Jr. (Emily), Kristin (Reid), Amanda, Darien, Haley, and William IV; two greatgrandchildren, Marcie and Rhys; plus, many nieces, nephews, and friends. Lola was preceded in death by her husband, Bill (2021), son, John (2013), as well as her parents and all seven siblings and their spouses.
A “giving thanks to the Lord for Lola” service will be in the chapel at Money and King Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 24th at 7:00 p.m.
Bill and Lola will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 3:00pm.
The Emerson family wishes to thank the staff at The Virginian and Vitas Hospice for their “personal touch” care.
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Our memories of this family date fro 1972 when Bill joined the Navy Band’s Country Current. We’ve remained friends since. The early years for us were the many concerts in the local D.C. areas, where Billy, the youngest, would fiddle with the audio controls that I manned. Many times I’d have to reset as the show went on before I tumbled to what was happening. It became a family joke and I look back with fond memories at those happenings. Lola was at most of these shows and we became good friends when the families would be there too. Bill and Lola attended several events centered around our family, one band members getting reassigned, and the marriage of our daughter in Leesburg being another come to mind. Lola was a gracious lady and helped us purchase a grand oak bed (which we still have) from her store in Vienna. It was nice seeing Lola Bill, and Billy at the 45th reunion concert of the Country Current. We have many activities that we all shared in that are to numerous to list, but they are forever etched in our family’s history. Our only regret is that we live so far apart these days and it has been difficult staying in close contact, but thank God for the phone and E-mail. We count Lola Emerson as one of our greatest friends over the years. Rest in God’s grace, Love, Bob & Barbara Palmer, The Villages, Florida