| Honored by: | Olive Batcher |
| Brick location: | C:16 map |
LOIS MARGARET HILL was born 25 Oct 1899, daughter of Valdo and Adelaide (Wallace) Hill in Mahaska Co, IA. She died in Takoma Park, MD on 9 Oct 1981. On 25 May 1921 she married Ralph R Batcher, son of Dr William H and Olive (Reynolds) Batcher at Collegiate Presbyterian Church Ames, IA.
Ralph, son of Dr William H and Olive (Reynolds) Batcher of Toledo, IA, was born 7 Jun 1897 in Dysart, IA and died 1 Dec 1968 in Mahasset, NY. Both were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Toledo, IA.
Lois and her ten siblings attended one-room country schools. Some graduated from high school in town, but only Lois and an older brother graduated from college. She attended Iowa State College on a tuition scholarship and graduated with a BS degree in dietetics in 1920. She used her training at the children's hospital in Iowa City before she married and to raise her five children.
Lois and Ralph, an electrical engineering student who also graduated in 1920, met at the Presbyterian Church where they were married. Except for the first seven months of marriage they lived in New York City where Ralph worked in radio and electronics fields and they raised their five children. They sent them all to college -- four attended Iowa State in Ames- the youngest went to Syracuse U. [Ralph Jr drowned at 19 years of age shortly after completing his sophomore year at Iowa State.]
After graduating with bachelor's degrees, they worked for a while before earning their master degrees without the need of monetary assistance from their parents. The two boys also earned PhDs in computer science. Lois and Ralph stressed the importance of good education and training which their children realize is true and have passed on to their children. 7/1/96