Delouise “Del” Higholt Sawyer, 89, of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away on January 10, 2024. Delouise was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to parents to William “Bill” and Dorothy Higholt.
The family made their way to Duluth, Minnesota, where Delouise spent her formative years. After high school, she attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1956. She was a teacher briefly before joining the United States Marine Corp as a 2nd Lieutenant. Delouise served in Camp Pendleton as a Disbursing officer, and if you were to ask her about her service: “I was quite popular, because I issued the Marine’s paychecks.”. She was honorably discharged from military service and settled in Norfolk. It was there that she met the love of her life Roland (RA) Sawyer, and they married December 6, 1962. The couple adored one another and were rarely apart. They remained devoted to each other through youth and retirement until RA’s passing in 2019.
Del was a lifelong Methodist parishioner, who enjoyed her friends and fellow churchgoers frequently over shared meals. If you were in a conversation with Del, you would recognize her as wicked smart and strong willed. She was steadfast in her support of the people she loved.
She is predeceased by her husband RA and her younger brothers, Howard Higholt of California, and John Higholt of Minnesota.
She is survived by cousins George Miller of Virginia, Mary Catherine Miller of Texas, William “Bill” Clanton of Texas, and Caroline Clanton of Texas. As well as her great nephews Xavier Higholt and Xander Higholt both of California.
