Louise Craig Meckstroth

Louise Craig Meckstroth, age 91, passed away on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Hospice House, The Villages, Florida. She was born on May 7, 1931 in Sharonville, Ohio. She was a graduate of Wilbur Wright High School in Dayton, Ohio and earned a B.S. in Social Science Education from Bowling Green State University in 1953. She later earned her Master's Degree in Educational Media from the University of Central Florida.

Louise taught American and World History, American Government, and Economics & Social Problems at Memorial High School in St. Marys, Ohio in the 1950s. She was associated with Brodbeck’s Markets in St. Marys, Celina, and Coldwater from 1955 to 1975. She operated the Mount Dora Market with her then-husband upon moving to Florida. She concurrently owned and operated The Fifth Avenue Bookworm for over two years before returning to school to pursue her Master's Degree. She worked for the Lake County School System for nearly twenty years, serving in a variety of librarian/school media specialist roles. Louise was an early adopter of technology in school libraries, automating the collection at Mount Dora High School on an Apple 2e. Additionally, she was instrumental in placing the first computers in Lake County classrooms. She taught a video production class and read widely in various genres to serve the needs and interests of her high school students. Upon retirement, she continued to serve as a librarian and consultant at various private schools and organizations. Louise was a member of the Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) where she served on the Board of Directors and chaired an annual convention. She was a member of the taskforce that established resource sharing among Lake County public libraries, serving at the request of the Lake County Board of Commissioners.

Louise was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Celina, Ohio, where she served as the organist for many years before moving to Florida. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora from 1975 until her death. She frequently substituted as an organist and taught Sunday School to the senior adult group, the Carpenter's Class, for 29 years. Louise also served as the church librarian for ten years.

Louise was predeceased by her parents, her former husband, Joseph A. Meckstroth, and her eldest daughter, Amy M. Bolt. She is survived by her daughters, Julia (Jim) Derden of Normal, Illinois and Carol Davidson of Sorrento, Florida. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Steven D. Bolt of Mount Dora and four beloved grandchildren, Michael (Emily) Bolt of West Chester, Pennsylvania, David (Mindy) Bolt of St. Augustine, Florida, Kathryn Davidson (Gray Ham) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Morgan Davidson of Eustis, Florida. Four great-grandchildren also survive her. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Cornerstone Hospice, the Assisted Living staff at the Lakeview Terrace Retirement Community, and her multitude of friends in her resident and local communities.

The family will hold a private service at the First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora’s Memorial Garden. Family and friends may continue to visit Louise in her peaceful, final resting place. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Louise C. Meckstroth Scholarship at the School of Information Sciences via the University of Illinois Foundation; 1305 W. Green Street; Urbana, IL 61801-2962 ( https://uif.uillinois.edu/ ) , or Cornerstone Hospice; 2445 Lane Park Road; Tavares, FL 32778. ( https://cornerstonehospice.org/ ) Arrangements are being handled by Harden-Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis, Florida.