Myrna Ruth Melhiser, Director of Music/Organist

Myrna Ruth Melhiser was born and reared in Owensboro. She studied piano as a teenager under the tutelage of Elizabeth Paris and organ under Dr. Ralph Waterman, a professor at University of Evansville. She then completed college at Kentucky Wesleyan with a major in English and a minor in music. Later she received a MA from Western in English. During her adult years, she continued to study voice under different professors – the most recent one, Dennis Sheppard.

Myrna has been involved in the teaching of youth all of her life. She retired from the Daviess County school system in 1993 but continued teaching half time for three additional years. During her teaching career, she served the last years as chairperson of her department. She then began as part-time instructor at KWC for ten years.

Myrna Ruth has been involved in the local music circles. She has served as organist of Buena Vista Baptist Church, church pianist and assistant organist of First Baptist Church, interim organist at Third Baptist Church, organist of First Baptist Church for more than a year, and organist and choir director of First Presbyterian Church. She has also served as president of the previous Owensboro Concert Association and of the Saturday Musicale of Owensboro and has been soloist for the Messiah and for the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Myrna Ruth was married to Robert H. Melhiser (deceased since 1994) and has one daughter, Amy Ruth Schertzinger. She has three delights of her life in Rebekah Elizabeth, Anna Kathryn, and Emma Ruth, her precious granddaughters.