
A native of Liberty Township in Pennsylvania, Melhuish earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from what is now Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. She held a master’s degree in education from Pennsylvania State University.
After teaching first grade in the public schools in Montrose, Pennsylvania, she joined the faculty at Edinboro University in 1960. She taught elementary students at the campus school and taught and advised college-level students as an assistant professor of education.
Melhuish served as President of the Edinboro University Women’s Association for four years and was a board member of the German Cultural Society of Erie.


