Lola Virginia Haskins (Eyres)

Lola Virginia (Eyres) Haskins, 85, retired Lawton postmaster, died July 23, 2014, in Sioux City, following a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Community Presbyterian Church in Lawton, with the Rev. Cynthia Ripperger officiating. Visitation will be 2 to 5 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 4 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Lola was born in rural Plymouth County on Sept. 4, 1928, the eldest daughter of R.G. and Bessie Eyres, and lived her entire life in Plymouth and Woodbury Counties. Lola attended Lawton High school, graduating as valedictorian of her class.
In 1947, she was united in marriage with Dwight Haskins of Lawton, and made her home in Lawton until failing health required a move to Sioux City. She began working for the Lawton Post Office in July 1947 at the age of 18, shortly after graduation, and was appointed postmaster in 1951 at the age of 21. At the time of her appointment, she was the youngest postmaster in the United States. She served continuously as postmaster until her retirement in 1987, having completed 40 years of service. In her later years as postmaster, she often assisted newly appointed postmasters in the area as they began their careers.
She was a member of Lawton Community Presbyterian Church and served as the volunteer church secretary for more than 40 years. She taught a children’s Sunday school class for more than 50 years, and was an Elder and Clerk of the Session for 37 years. Lola served as Moderator of Prospect Hill Presbytery and served on many of the Presbytery committees as well. Lola will be long remembered for her gift of time and caring to persons of need in the Lawton area. It was common for her to run errands for persons unable to make the trip to the grocery store or for doctor appointments, provide meals for shut-ins and generally being available for anyone needing help. While she was postmaster, she saw that every Santa Claus letter received a handwritten response. After retiring from the postal service, she was a volunteer reader for the Lawton Bronson Elementary School. One of her nieces summed up a common feeling, "She was a much loved, exceptional aunt who was unique, always giving to everyone without expectation of anything in return."
Vacation time for Dwight and Lola often found them at various places in the U.S.A. attending postal conventions, Presbytery meetings and visiting friends and relatives. After her retirement, they traveled in Europe and Australia, as well as numerous bus tours around the United States and Canada.
In addition to numerous nieces and nephews, she is survived by sisters, Lori Hayden of Kingman, Ariz., and Phyllis Peterson of Sioux City; brothers, Robert (Nancy) Eyres and Ronald (Orpha) Eyres of Wichita, Kan., Michael (Sherry) Eyres of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Ken (Joan) Eyres of Lawton, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, R.G. and Bessie Eyres, and her husband of 63 years, Dwight Haskins.