Dittmer was born on July 28, 1919, in Dalhart, Texas. Her curiosity and talent led her to become the Assistant Civilian Personnel Officer at the Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base (currently Travis Air Force Base) in 1949.
While working at the Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, she became a vocal advocate for the military members who wanted to join the civilian workers to formalize a new banking institution to charter a savings and loan for everyone on base. Dittmer found the first depositor and helped create the Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Force Savings and Loan, which later became Travis Credit Union. Today, the positive outcomes of her tireless efforts for the credit union and the community have helped Travis become the 12th largest credit union in California, with more than 225,000 members.
"It was Lois' bravery that enabled her vision to come to life. She will be remembered as a visionary and a woman of deep convictions,” said Kevin Miller, President and CEO of Travis Credit Union.
“She embodied the “People Helping People” credit union philosophy and persisted for the betterment of our community. Travis Credit Union uplifts her legacy by continuing our collective work to create a more equitable and inclusive financial institution for every resident in the communities we serve.”
Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving those who live or work in Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Colusa and Merced counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the twelfth largest credit union in California, with 225,000 members and more than $4.7 billion in assets. Travis Credit Union is recognized as a Forbes 2019, 2020, and 2021 Best-in-State Credit Union. As one of the premier financial institutions in Solano, Contra Costa, Yolo, and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members, its solid, secure history and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.