R. Kenneth Myers
October 16, 1936 — June 20, 2012
R. Kenneth Myers
R. Kenneth Myers, 75, of Hanover, passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at Hanover Hospital following extended health issues and a brief illness.
Born on October 16, 1936 in Mechanicsburg, he was a son of the late Robert K. and Pearl Albright Myers. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of nearly 41 years, Judith A. Berkheimer Myers, whom he has missed greatly since her death 10 years ago; a brother, J. Stephen Myers; and a sister, Shirley Sherry.
His father founded Myers Drug and Medical Equipment Center in 1937. Ken joined the business after graduating from Eichelberger High School in 1954 and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1959, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity. His father was a 1925 graduate and his son, Scott is a 1986 graduate of the same university. Ken, a registered pharmacist from 1959-2010, purchased the business in 1976 and the pharmacy operated for decades as Hanover oldest independent family pharmacy, celebrating its 70th year of business in 2007 before closing in 2008. Three generations of registered pharmacists graduating from this same school continued a legacy few families have ever attained in the 190+ year history of the college, the oldest pharmacy school in the nation.
He was a member of the Hanover Area Jaycees for 14 years, including terms as a Board Member, State Director, Vice-President, and Chairman of the Board in 1966-67. In 1971, he was named Hanover Area Jaycees Outstanding Young Man. Highlights of his time with the Jaycees include being Chairman of the Halloween Parade and his contributions to many longstanding Jaycee community projects. His love for Halloween was the impetus behind starting a pumpkin carving celebration at Pine Grove Furnace State Park that grew from a small number of participants in its first year to a couple of thousand carved jack-o-lanterns presently. Also while being a Jaycee, he coordinated Rubella Sunday, when 2500 children were vaccinated against German Measles and conducted drug awareness programs for area schools and organizations.
Seeing a need to help others, he created the Hanover Hotline, a 24 hour crisis counseling phone line, and served as a special instructor of the Hanover Practical Nurses School. In this spirit, he and his wife had the opportunity through their many decades operating the family pharmacy to help shape and mentor high school students into productive adults by participating in the Reading Mentorship program for the Hanover Public School District in the 1990s. Ken was a former member of the Board of Directors of Downtown Hanover Incorporated, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, and was named 1990 Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year.
Survivors include two sons, Scott K. Myers of Hanover and David A. Myers and his wife, Michele of Mars, PA; a daughter, Susan L. Nelson and her husband, Daryl of Dillsburg; four grandsons and three nieces
The family will receive friends at a viewing from 6 to 8 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012 at Panebaker Funeral Home, Inc., 311 Broadway, Hanover. The funeral will be held privately and burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Being that the last years of his life were impaired by painful shingles, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the National Shingles Foundation, 603 West 115 Street, Suite 371, New York, NY 10025.
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Born on October 16, 1936 in Mechanicsburg, he was a son of the late Robert K. and Pearl Albright Myers. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of nearly 41 years, Judith A. Berkheimer Myers, whom he has missed greatly since her death 10 years ago; a brother, J. Stephen Myers; and a sister, Shirley Sherry.
His father founded Myers Drug and Medical Equipment Center in 1937. Ken joined the business after graduating from Eichelberger High School in 1954 and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1959, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Chi fraternity. His father was a 1925 graduate and his son, Scott is a 1986 graduate of the same university. Ken, a registered pharmacist from 1959-2010, purchased the business in 1976 and the pharmacy operated for decades as Hanover oldest independent family pharmacy, celebrating its 70th year of business in 2007 before closing in 2008. Three generations of registered pharmacists graduating from this same school continued a legacy few families have ever attained in the 190+ year history of the college, the oldest pharmacy school in the nation.
He was a member of the Hanover Area Jaycees for 14 years, including terms as a Board Member, State Director, Vice-President, and Chairman of the Board in 1966-67. In 1971, he was named Hanover Area Jaycees Outstanding Young Man. Highlights of his time with the Jaycees include being Chairman of the Halloween Parade and his contributions to many longstanding Jaycee community projects. His love for Halloween was the impetus behind starting a pumpkin carving celebration at Pine Grove Furnace State Park that grew from a small number of participants in its first year to a couple of thousand carved jack-o-lanterns presently. Also while being a Jaycee, he coordinated Rubella Sunday, when 2500 children were vaccinated against German Measles and conducted drug awareness programs for area schools and organizations.
Seeing a need to help others, he created the Hanover Hotline, a 24 hour crisis counseling phone line, and served as a special instructor of the Hanover Practical Nurses School. In this spirit, he and his wife had the opportunity through their many decades operating the family pharmacy to help shape and mentor high school students into productive adults by participating in the Reading Mentorship program for the Hanover Public School District in the 1990s. Ken was a former member of the Board of Directors of Downtown Hanover Incorporated, the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce, and was named 1990 Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year.
Survivors include two sons, Scott K. Myers of Hanover and David A. Myers and his wife, Michele of Mars, PA; a daughter, Susan L. Nelson and her husband, Daryl of Dillsburg; four grandsons and three nieces
The family will receive friends at a viewing from 6 to 8 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012 at Panebaker Funeral Home, Inc., 311 Broadway, Hanover. The funeral will be held privately and burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Being that the last years of his life were impaired by painful shingles, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the National Shingles Foundation, 603 West 115 Street, Suite 371, New York, NY 10025.
PDF Printable Version
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