Virginia M. Mehler

Virginia (Ginny) McCluskey Mehler died on October 14, 2013 at her apartment at Homestead Village after a lengthy illness.  She was the wife of William A. Mehler, Jr., with whom she celebrated their 65

th

wedding anniversary on August 28.  She had been a long-time resident of Manheim Township, having come to Lancaster with her husband in 1948.

She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for over forty years, where she had served as chairwoman of the Board of Deaconesses, a church visitor, a mentor for many young wives and the church’s first weddings assistant.

A member of the Iris Club, she was a past president, secretary and parliamentarian.  She was a member of the Lancaster Junior League and had served as chairman of the Education Committee and as Sustainer chairman.  Because of her many years as member and secretary of the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland, she was named an Honorary Life Board Member.  She was a member of the Lancaster Cliosophic Society, where she served several terms as secretary.  She was a former president of the Lancaster Day Nursery Board, president of the Lancaster Penn State Alumnae Club and a member of the Advisory Board of the Lancaster County Office of Aging and the Chamber of Commerce Safari Committee.  She was an active board member of Quest for Learning for twenty years.

From 1976 to 1984, Mrs. Mehler was a member of Manheim Township School Board, holding the posts of vice-president, treasurer and assistant secretary.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mrs. Mehler attended Germantown High School.  In 1948 she received her B.S. degree in Education from Pennsylvania State University, where she was president of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority chapter.  She taught first grade at Buehrle School in the Lancaster School District for two years and was a substitute teacher at the Child Development Center for two years.

Mrs. Mehler was a member of the Lancaster Country Club for almost fifty years.  Her hobbies included needlepoint, reading, gardening, golf and travel throughout the United States, Europe and other countries.  With her husband she participated in 23 Elderhostel programs across the country.

She was a daughter of the late William T. and Elsie Richards McCluskey.

Ginny and Bill met in junior high school.  Their romance flourished despite attending different high schools, Bill’s World War II overseas service, and then attending different colleges.

Ginny was noted for entertaining friends and newcomers to the community at dinners and especially for the Mehler’s New Year’s Day open house, which welcomed dozens of friends each year for almost fifty years.  She also collaborated with Bill in producing original, Bible-based Christmas cards which they sent to hundreds of friends for even more years, including last Christmas.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by their three children: John R., husband of Deborah Mehler, Easton, PA; Nancy M. Huber, Winston-Salem, NC; and Robert B. Mehler, Ft. Myers Beach, FL; by three grandchildren; Robert F. Huber, Montery, Mexico; Caroline Huber, wife of Joseph Antonio, Atlanta, GA; and Elizabeth W. Huber, Dominican Republic.  She was predeceased by two brothers, William (in childhood) and J. Richard McCluskey.

The family wishes to thank the staffs of Homestead Village, Hospice and Community Care and Central Penn Nursing Care for all of their compassionate and professional assistance during the past months.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service in Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2150 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Michael A. Rogers officiating.  Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Private interment will be held in Westminster Memorial Gardens at the convenience of the family.  Memorial contributions may be sent to the Lancaster Day Care Center, 150 S. Queen St., Lancaster, PA  17603.