- Van Handel, Ralph A. Lafayette, IndianaAge 83, passed away November 27, 2002. He was born January 17, 1919 in App leton and he received his bachelor’s in library science from the Universi ty of Wisconsin. He married Alice C Hogan in 1945 in Madison, Wisconsi n. He is survived by his wife, Alice C Van Handel; a son, William P. VanHa ndel (Becky), Greenwood, Indiana; two daughters: Karen Naminski (Tom), Whe eler, Indiana; Mary Jo Craig (Terry), Plymouth, Indiana; four grandchildre n, and three sisters: Ruth Kessler (Arthur), Neenah; Dorothy Spencer (Fran k), Sylacauga, Alabama; Joan Sommerville (Gene), Redding, California.Mr. Van Handel served in the Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945. He receiv ed six battle stars and two unit commendations. He was the head librari an in Lawrence, Kansas from 1947-1951 and in Hibbing, Minnesota from 1951- 1954. He was the library director in Gary, IN from 1954-1974. From 1974-19 84 he was the library director at Wells Memorial Public Library, Lafayett e, Indiana.He was a member of the Indiana Library Certification Board from 1969-198 4, the Indiana State Library and Historical Building Expansion Committee f rom 1973-1981, a life member of the American Library Association, and a li fe member of the Indiana Library Association, of which he was president fr om 1963-1964.In 1971 he was named Indiana Librarian of the Year. He was Named Sagamo re of the Wabash in 1984. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and form er member of the Lafayette Rotary Club. He was listed in the “Who’s W ho in the World,” “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who in the Midwest.
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1919 - 2002 (83 years)
Education - High School
