Arla Koch Formo, 83, of Wilson, N.C., passed away Wednesday morning. Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Joyner's Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. N.C. The Rev. Jim McKinnon will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service.
Arla is survived by her husband of 63 years, Arnold L Formo Jr; her daughters: Wendy Akers of Atlanta, Ga., and Marcy Weston and husband, Danny, of Kenansville; her sons: A. Lee Formo III and wife, Mary Alice, of Lynchburg, Va., Steve Formo and wife, Dawn, of Halifax, Ric Formo and wife, Jesus, of Atlanta, Ga., and Brian Formo and wife, Erin, of Wilson; her brother, Louie Koch and wife, Loretta, of Aberdeen; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Arla was born in Aberdeen on March 6, 1929, to Ollie and Marie Koch. She graduated from Aberdeen Central High School and attended Northern State Teachers College for two years.
She married Arnie Formo on June 19, 1949, in Aberdeen. They lived in their home on Richmond Lake until 1958, when they relocated their family to Wilson. She was a Cub Mother for several years, and spent her spare time gardening and sewing. She was a timekeeper for her husband's swim team in Raleigh for many years. She enjoyed numerous trips to the beach where she relished dolphin watching. She and her husband took 68 trips to Walt Disney World, where they renewed their wedding vows in the presence of their family for their 50th Anniversary in 1999.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver Herman William Koch and Marie Hansen Koch; and her sister, Diane Linna Koch.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, 2418 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27607; the American Cancer Association, c/o Mrs. C.A. Thompson, 1207 Peachtree Road, Wilson, NC 27896 or the American Heart Association, c/o Mrs. Phyllis Babb, 1108 Windemere Drive, Wilson, NC 27896.
Condolences may be directed to joyners.net.