Lou received his BA in music from Florida Presbyterian College (now Eckerd College). He has conducted bells for over 30 years and started bell choirs at two Presbyterian churches in the Staunton-Augusta area. After 21 years as an organ builder, including 13 years with Taylor & Boody in Staunton, Lou has been self-employed since 1995 as a conservator and restorer of early keyboard instruments, mostly square pianos from before 1820. He has also done extensive work conserving keyboard instruments at Colonial Williamsburg. Lou and his wife, Ruth Arnold, live southwest of Staunton in a timber-frame solar house they designed and built themselves. They have two grown children and four grandchildren. Ruth retired from her position as Director of the Staunton Public Library in 2017. Lou and Ruth are longtime vegetarians (now mostly vegan). They currently sing in the Covenant Choir and with Schola Cantorum in Waynesboro.