Elaine V. Scheifele was born in 1924 in Detroit, MI. She spent the first years of her life in Blissfield, Lenawee, MI. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, following her graduation from Blissfield High School, she attended the Fort Wayne Bible Institute for one year before coming to Kalamazoo. As of 1942, according to city directories from that year, Elaine was living at 1317 Lane Blvd. in Kalamazoo. Her father was the pastor at the neighboring Lane Blvd. Evangelical Church. In 1943, according to the city directory and the Kalamazoo Gazette article announcing her wedding, Elaine was employed as an office worker. By 1945 the city directory listed her as a clerk at City Light and Water.

On January 7, 1946, Elaine was married to Robert E. Ludwig. According to his obituary in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Robert had served in the US Army during World War II, mostly in the Aleutian Islands. He was an alum of North Central College in Naperville, IL.

Robert and Elaine Ludwig had four daughters. Robert was employed in the paper industry at Birmingham and Prosser, which would go on to become the Mead Company. They were active members of Calvary Bible Church.

Attempts to ascertain whether Elaine is still alive were inconclusive.