Melba Mae Middlesworth (95) of Altamont

Melba Mae Middlesworth, 95, of Altamont passed away at 3:45 a.m. Sunday, February 24, 2019 at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 at the Lutheran Care Center Chapel, 700 W. Cumberland Rd., Altamont with Rev. Paige Campbell officiating. Visitation will be held 2 hours before the service. Burial will be at Mound Cemetery in Cowden. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Melba Mae Knop was born Saturday, December 29, 1923, to Charles W. and Louisa (Gruenewald) Knop in Shumway, IL. She married John T. Middlesworth on Friday, July 13, 1944, at the Shumway Trinity Lutheran Church. They celebrated 67 years together before John died in November 24, 2011. This union was blessed with three daughters: Thyra Kaye, Suva Jo, and Sharalee.

Melba was raised in rural Shumway and loved being outside and following her father around the farm. She attended high school in Effingham, graduating in 1942 with her best friend Eileen (Ohnesorge) Wendt, who was her witness when she eloped with John T.

During the first years of her marriage, Melba stayed home to raise her children and take care of her husband, who was teaching and coaching at Strasburg High School. In those days, PE coaches didn’t have wash & wear uniforms. So, Melba, wanting her husband to look nice, ironed his t-shirts! Melba rarely missed a home ballgame during the time John T. coached at Stewardson-Strasburg and Shelbyville High Schools.

Later, Melba worked at the Herborn Grocery Store—owned by Gene Von Behren. Then in 1961 she became the unit secretary at the Stewardson-Strasburg High School. Students described her as kind, considerate, and willing to help whenever she could. She retired in 1979.

In 2009 Melba and John T. moved to assisted living at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont. They both enjoyed their time there—receiving excellent care from all the staff, especially the Terrace Director, Joann Koss. Melba joined several ladies to play pinochle on Friday afternoons. Much of the rest of her time was spent watching sports—baseball, football, or her favorite, basketball. Melba was so happy when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. Her only regret was that the love of her life and favorite Cubs fan, John T., wasn’t with her to enjoy the games.

In 2018 Melba moved to the skilled nursing side of Lutheran Care—again receiving wonderful care from all the nurses and aides, especially one special friend, Debbie Grubaugh.

Survivors include her three daughters: Thyra (Herbert) Russell of Carbondale, IL; Suva (Robert) Vincent of Ballwin, MO; Sharalee (Richard) Dowd of Shiloh, IL; five grandchildren: Ryan (Jennifer) Dowd of Chatham, IL; Brandon and Kyle Dowd of Shiloh, IL; Alicia (Justin) Joens of Cedar Rapids, IA; Kelsey (Tom) Cardwell of Barnhart, MO; two step grandsons: Bob and Jeremy Vincent; four great grandsons: Connor and Jacob Dowd, Preston Joens, and Cooper Cardwell; two great granddaughters Quinn Dowd and Kenzie Mae Cardwell, step great granddaughter, Charlie Hughes; two step great grandsons: Donald Joens and Tommie Cardwell; three nephews: Robert, Richard, and William Middlesworth and niece Karin Ewan.

Melba was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and grandma great. She was a Christian woman and a friend to all who knew her. Melba was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham. She was raised in the Shumway Trinity Lutheran Church and attended for many years both the Strasburg and Shumway Methodist Churches. Many friends will miss her sweet personality and cherish her memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Hardin and Lola Middlesworth; sister, Emily Knop Appelt; brothers-in-law, Erle and Charles Middlesworth and Kenneth Appelt; and nephew, Charles Middlesworth, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the John T. and Melba Middlesworth Scholarship Fund at Stewardson-Strasburg High School.

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