Lois Jane Smith Rust, 97, of Jacksonville, Illinois, died Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at The Pointe in Jacksonville.

She was born July 6, 1928, to LeRoy Thomas and Hattie Belle (Scott) Smith in Jacksonville. Lois married Paul Oliver Rust on July 24, 1949, at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville; they were married for 72 1/2 years. He preceded her in death on February 8, 2022.

Lois is survived by her children, Paul Wesley Rust (wife Debra) of Franklin and Sarah Lois Rust Reinke of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Heather Colwell (husband Ryan) of Franklin, Laura Books (husband B.J.) of Bloomington, Ginny Lois Walsh (husband Matt) of Franklin, and Marcella Reinke of Minneapolis, MN; great grandchildren, Kyle Colwell (wife Sara), Trevor and Caden Colwell, Riley and George Books, and Paul, Lochlan, and Lettie Walsh. She is also survived by Eeva Nyberg, an International Christian Youth Exchange student from Finland who lived with the family for a year.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; older brother, Edwin; twin brother, Louis; and younger sister, Martha.

Lois attended Locust Grove, a one-room school in Sangamon County, and Criswell School in Morgan County. She had graduated from Franklin High School, the class of 1946, as co-valedictorian. In 1950, she graduated from Illinois College with an AB degree, majoring in English. While she was attending IC, she was a member of Gamma Delta Literary Society and Illinois College Choir, where she met Paul. She was also the 1950 Class Agent and later served on the IC Alumni Board. On May 17, 1992, she was awarded the Illinois College Distinguished Citizen award. Lois later furthered her education and earned a Master of Science in Education degree from Western Illinois University in 1974.

Mrs. Rust taught grades 5-8 at Morgan County Unit 1 from 1950-1953, in Nortonville, and then at Washington Elementary for Jacksonville School District #117 from 1964-1991. She was elected to Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 1992.

Lois was a member of the Jacksonville Education Association, Nation Education Association (life member), Illinois Education Association, Illinois Retired Teachers Association, and Phi Delta Kappa. She was an ordained Elder (Emerita) of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Education teacher of Seekers Class, the Chairperson of the World Outreach Committee, served on the Christian Woman's Fellowship, and also a bible study and choir member. She went on mission trips to Paraguay and Thailand. Lois was also the secretary and president of College Hill, a literary club that she had been a member of since 1999. She was a Doorbell Dinner volunteer and coordinator of CCC volunteers, and also a Jacksonville Food Center volunteer.

She enjoyed sewing, having made dozens of baby gowns for Church World Service and more than 300 school bags. Lois also liked to read, write, and travel. Over her lifetime, she had travelled to all fifty states, all seven continents, and several countries.

A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM January 10, 2026, at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville, with burial at Memorial Lawn. The family will meet friends at the church from 1:00 – 2:00 PM prior to the service. Memorial donations are suggested to Central Christian Church. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville is assisting the family with arrangements.