Elizabeth O'Neal Melby

Elizabeth "Betty" Murray Melby (nee O'Neal) passed away Sunday, July 28, 2013 at Grande Village in Twinsburg, Ohio. She was born April 10, 1921, on her mother's birthday, in Saluda, South Carolina to the late John Bunyon and Helen Carson O'Neal (nee Underwood). When she was a young girl Betty's family moved from South Carolina to Washington state and she often reminisced about the experience of driving from Washington back to South Carolina with her family in the late '20's in a Model T car, a trip that took several weeks. She graduated from Bethel High School in Sugar Grove, North Carolina and the University of North Carolina Women's Division at Greensboro, North Carolina.

She met her husband, Floyd, the first weekend after she graduated from college, and they were married December 16, 1942, a marriage that lasted nearly 64 years until his death in 2006. She was a teacher by profession, proudly volunteered at local hospitals for many years and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Betty golfed until she was 80, and she loved playing bridge with her friends. She was an avid reader and always had a book ready to read right up until her passing. She was a very gracious, caring and thoughtful lady, a legacy of which her family is very proud.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Floyd, her only brother, John Thomas O'Neal, and her dearly loved granddaughter, Suzanne Melby Geckle, who passed away on February 2 of this year. Betty is survived by her four children: twin daughters, Jean (Doug) Wade of Hudson, OH, Joyce (Greg) Jordan of Phoenix AZ, and sons Floyd Jr. "Bus" (Anita) Melby of Holland, OH, and John (Cathy) Melby of Dallas, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Julie (Jason) Noll, Michael (Lindsay) Wade, Robert (fiancée Freya) Jordan, Jennifer Jordan, John (Lisa) Melby, Aaron Geckle, Jennifer (Mark) Phillips, and Christine and Haley Melby and 9 great grandchildren.

Floyd and Betty made many friends in the different locations they lived: Akron, OH, Detroit, MI, St. Mary's, OH, Columbia, SC, Ormond Beach, FL where they retired, and Twinsburg, OH where they finally moved to be closer to family. The family would like to express our thanks and gratitude to kind and caring doctors and staff at the Cleveland Clinic and the wonderful nurses and staff at Grande Village for their compassion and care of our mother and our family through her struggle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty's name to The Victory Center, 5532 W. Central Ave. Suite B, Toledo, OH 43615 or the charity of your choice. Services will be private.