Lois Ditlow Landis

Lois Ditlow Landis, 87, passed away at home on Friday, March 2, 2012 surrounded by those she loved.

She was born in Paxtang on Aug. 3, 1924, to the late Clarence Mentzer and Sara Edna (Bear) Ditlow.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence, Harold and George Ditlow.

Lois moved from the Ditlow family farm in Paxtang to Carlisle following the death of her mother in 1936 to live with John and Elsie D. Finkenbinder and family. Upon graduation at the top of her class from Carlisle High School, she attended Thompson Business College. Lois was employed at the Naval Supply Depot and then for 26 years at Dickinson College Library.

She was a member of the Seniors of Old Bellaire and an honorary member of O.D.K. Lois was a former member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and a sixty-year member of First United Methodist Church, Carlisle. She was a member of Embroiderer’s Guild of America. Her passion for giving was reflected in the many paths of volunteering she found throughout her life. She was one of the first volunteers to serve for Project S.H.A.R.E. when it was established and the Samaritan Fellowship, but the passion of her volunteer life was the Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS). At the time of her death, Lois was the longest serving volunteer at CCHS. She was the recipient of the 2011 CCHS Volunteer of the Year and had graciously refused this honor two previous years until finally she agreed to add her name to the history of CCHS. Lois’s second life-career at the historical society built on her extensive skills as a librarian, her willingness to help, her outgoing personality, and her knowledge of Carlisle. Lois immediately began to catalog the CCHS’s extensive photo collection. She volunteered thousands of hours to organize and number photo collections, type index cards, type negative sleeves and file photos and negatives. Her card index is still used today. Lois knew the photo collection inside out and her final project was the Steinmetz Collection which she was instrumental in acquiring in 2006. Faithful, diligent, sweet and knowledgeable were the foundation of Lois’s volunteerism.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Richard Lackey Landis; sons, Richard E. and his wife, Ginny of Alexandria, Michael H. and his wife, Cindy of Carlisle; grandchildren, Riley E. A. and Sean M. Landis; several nieces and nephews, including Mary Jane Ditlow Spackman with whom she shared a special bond. Lois was the heart of her family and many friends.

The family would like to thank Celtic Care Hospice, and all of the home health care attendants who took care of Lois.

A memorial service to celebrate Lois’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, 64 E. North St., Carlisle. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Carlisle or Project S.H.A.R.E. or the Cumberland County Historical Society.

Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 N. Hanover St., Carlisle is in charge of the funeral arrangements.