Though Lois (Howe) ‘66 and Melvin Roush ‘60 did not cross paths while students at Geneva, the College left a lasting impression in both of their lives, shaping their commitments decades later. Both were grade-school teachers throughout their careers in western Pennsylvania and were active church members. In October 2025, five years after Melvin’s passing, their Rochester home was gifted to Geneva College when Lois relocated to a nearby retirement community.
Melvin graduated from New Brighton High School before attending Geneva to study economics in the late 1950s. He was a fourth-grade teacher for 36 years in the Seneca Valley School District and was known for his creativity and engagement with students. Even recently, a former student recognized Lois’ last name, recalling fourth-grade memories with Mr. Roush and sharing German phrases he learned in the classroom. Melvin wrote the newsletters for the New Brighton Historical Society and was the editor of “The Beacon,” the newsletter from his church Lighthouse Lutheran.
Lois attended Geneva a handful of years after Melvin, beginning her college years in 1962. While earning her education degree, she played clarinet in the band for all four years and was a member of the economics club. Under the direction of economics professor Stewart M. Lee, PhD, the club took a trip to NYC to visit the New York Stock Exchange, a trip remembered fondly by Lois. Geneva marked the beginning of lifelong friendships for her, paved with memories of visits to car races, progressive dinners, and good conversations.
While in their early and mid-forties, Lois and Melvin met at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brighton, PA. They married in 1984 and spent their 36-year marriage together in their Rochester home, which Lois lived in until late 2025. The home was built by Lois’ grandfather around 1928 for a local business owner whose work garage was across the street from it. The home and business were lost during the Great Depression, and the house was owned by a few families before it was bought by Lois and Melvin. The house holds decades of memories for the Roushes, who chose to entrust it to Geneva as a charitable donation.
“I’d like to see more people want to go to a school like Geneva,” says Lois of their decision. “We both really appreciated Geneva as a Christian college.”
Melvin and Lois viewed Geneva as a steward to honor this gift’s legacy, desiring a meaningful impact on new generations of students who seek a strong education with Christian values. Their giving reflects a lifelong commitment to the incomparable value of education, faith-driven priorities, and generosity to others, principles shared by many within the Geneva community of alumni.
Learn more about planned giving through the Geneva College Foundation at geneva.giftlegacy.com.
By Erika Kauffman ‘20
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