The legacy of Ralph W. and Lois C. Myerholtz will forever be remembered through their endowment fund at the Hancock County Community Foundation. In keeping with the Myerholtz’s love for literacy and the opportunities provided by the Hancock County Public Library, Ralph and Lois named the library’s endowment at HCCF as the annual grantee of their charitable fund.
Ralph and Lois both pursued degrees in the field of science at Purdue University. The couple met while working on the Purdue Scientist magazine staff. Both Ralph and Lois pursued further education and got married upon graduation in Nashville, IN on June 24, 1951. Lois first began work as a research associate at Abbott Laboratories. Throughout her career, she also worked as a lab technician in a hospital, taught in a junior high school, and spent 20 years at her dream job as an Environmental Educator at the Morton Arboretum, west of Chicago. Ralph spent his 32-year career at Amoco Chemicals Company where he was the Director of the Polymer Physics Division.
The Myerholtz’s were also parents to two children, their son, Carl, and their daughter, Lynn. Later, they would become grandparents to Lynn’s children, Nick and Megan. Ralph’s work took the family to Japan for three years when the children were very young. Living in a foreign culture and raising a family was a wonderful growth experience for everyone, and Lois and Ralph enjoyed the challenge of immersing themselves in a new community. When the family returned to the U.S., they would stay in the Midwest living in both Illinois and Indiana.
Lois and Ralph always enjoyed exploring the world around them. They were lifelong learners and found the greatest enjoyment out of simple things. Both were avid readers, nature enthusiasts, and loved a day outside. Ralph passed away in February of 2005. Lois continued to pursue both of their passions by helping at the library, becoming very involved at church, promoting women support groups, and working on community outreach programs.
Lois passed away in December of 2018. Both Ralph and Lois were long-time supporters and past board members of the Hancock County Public Library in Greenfield. The library was very important to them. The couple always felt that libraries brought joy and knowledge to everyone. As a result of this passion, the Ralph W. Myerholtz, Jr. and Lois C. Myerholtz Charitable Endowment Fund was established at the Hancock County Community Foundation to carry on their love for literacy and passion for the Hancock County Public Library.
