Melba Irwin

SIKESTON - Melba Marie Irwin, 71, died at 1 p.m. Dec. 8, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

Born Jan. 12, 1931, in St. Louis, daughter of the late Edward Carl and Edna Junge Kuhlmann, she had been a baker for Jay's Fried Chicken and was a waitress at the Holiday Inn, Kellets, Gaslight Square and IGA before retiring. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston.

On April 24, 1948, at DeSoto, she married David Walter "Buck" Irwin who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: six sons and five daughters-in-law, David Wayne and Deborah Irwin of St. Louis, Charles A. and Maggie Sue Irwin of Miner, Edward L. and Josefina Irwin of Virginia Beach, Va., Michael L. and Cathy Irwin of Norman, Okla., and Harry J. and Cheryl Irwin and Dennis R. Irwin of Sikeston; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Kenneth Johnson of Lexington Park, Md.; one brother, Brice Kuhlmann of Giddings, Texas; one sister, Elaine Ames of DeSoto; and 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

One sister preceded her in death.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel.

Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church with the Rev. A.J. Wollenburg, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: David Irwin, Matt Irwin, Joe Irwin, Will Irwin, Ben Irwin and Chris Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Duane Irwin, John Irwin, Ross Irwin, Eric Irwin, Anthony Irwin, Amanda Irwin, Jessica Johnson, Traci Hopper, Laura Ross, Christine Irwin and Bobbi Jo Irwin.