Grace Melton Obituary

Grace K. Melton

Grace Kellogg Melton, the daughter of Benjamin Kellogg and Sophia (Lutz) Kellogg, was born Oct. 5, 1917 at Lecompton, KS, and passed away on July 1, 2015 at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, KS at the age of 97 years, 8 months, and 26 days.

In Grace's last year of high school she lived in the town of Lecompton with a blind lady and cooked and cleaned for her. Graduating as valedictorian in three years, she earned her high school diploma with the class of 1934. She entered Kansas State University on a Union Pacific scholarship. Due to the depression, she had to lay out for two years to earn enough money to continue her studies in Home Economics. After graduating from KSU Magna Cum Laude, she became the Home Economist in Marion County for three years. Grace later returned for a second B.S. and a Master's degree.

On January 23, 1942, she was united in marriage to Harold Thomas Melton of Tecumseh, Kansas. He entered the Naval Service immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Upon his release from military service, he went to work for Boeing in Wichita and then secured a Chevrolet dealership in Belleville, KS in 1944.

To this union was born three sons and one daughter were born: Jerry, James, Joan, and John.

Grace taught school for 23 years. She loved her students and looked forward eagerly to each day with them. Grace was an active member of the Belleville Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and a deacon. She was a past President of PEO, a 4-H leader, and was active in many civic affairs.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold of 69 years, a sister, Elsie Richardson and a brother, John Kellogg.

She is survived by three sons and one daughter: Jerry (Linda) Melton and James (Linda) Melton, all of Belleville, Joan (Jon D) Thayer of Abilene, KS, and John (Missy) Melton of Olathe, KS; 12 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren; other relatives, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, July 4, 2015, at the United Presbyterian Church, Belleville, KS, with Pastor Robert H. Frasier, officiating.

Interment will be at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Belleville, KS.

Visitation will be from One PM until 9 PM on Friday, July 3, 2015 at the Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS where the family will greet friends from 6 PM until 8 PM.

Memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian Church, Belleville or the Historical Society, Lecompton, KS.

Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com

Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS

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