Melba Owens

Melba Louise Gilbreath Owens died January 6, 2012, in River Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Born in Parks, Arkansas, May 20, 1924, to Victoria O?Neal Thompson Gilbreath, and Luther Milton Gilbreath, Melba was a direct descendant of one of Scott County?s oldest pioneer families. She continued the legacy of James Foster Gaines and Pamelia Halley Gaines, who established in 1836 the Gaines Plantation along the Fourche La Fave River in Parks. Melba?s life as a strong, capable woman modeled the strength and self-sufficiency of a long line of ancestral women. Melba?s early school days were spent at Parks with brother, Milton and numerous cousins and local friends. Desiring the best education available, Melba finished her last two years of high school in Waldron, riding the school bus that transported students from the timber community of Forrester to Waldron High School. She usually boarded the bus carrying a gallon of fresh milk provided by uncle and aunt, Seth and Gladys Thompson, which Melba traded to the school cafeteria for lunch. After graduating from high school in 1941, Melba married her childhood sweetheart Mondell Walter Owens in September 1941, less than three months before the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor. Shortly, her young husband, brother, and numerous other relatives and friends accepted the call for defenders of freedom during World War II. In order to be near her husband?s naval station, Melba relocated to Chula Vista, California, where she worked as a Rosie the Riveter at Rhor Aircraft. Small in stature, Melba was able to make repairs inside the wings of planes damaged during the war effort. During World War II her mother, several sisters-in-laws, cousins, and friends assisted in the war effort, often sharing the limited housing available in California. When the war ended, Melba, Mondell, and Victoria returned to Parks, living together and farming their small acreage from the original Gaines Plantation. Soon two daughters were born. While the girls were young, Melba began her college education by taking correspondence courses and attending Saturday classes. She began her 32-year teaching career at Boles, Arkansas, before graduating from college. After completing her Bachelor?s Degree in 1955 from Arkansas State Teacher College (now University of Central Arkansas) in Conway, Melba taught sophomore English 28 years in the Waldron High School. She later attended the University of Arkansas Fayetteville, where she received a Master?s Degree in 1968. Melba and her daughter Louise, who was an undergraduate student, actually shared a dormitory room two summers. Education was of paramount importance to Melba, both in and out of the classroom. She always shared knowledge with and played a large role in the lives of not only her own children, but also grandchildren and great grandchildren, willingly tutoring any other children needing extra attention. Former students are a testament to ?Mrs. Owens'? dedication to teaching when they give her credit for their ability to think and write. Melba sponsored the Keener 4-H Club, directing a youth quartet who performed on Fort Smith Television Station Channel 5 during National 4-H Club Week during the 1960s. Mrs. Owens was senior class sponsor during her many years of high school teaching, persistently raising money for the senior trip to New Orleans aboard the Kansas City Southern Star that connected in nearby Heavener, Oklahoma. She and another teacher boarded the train with the seniors Friday evening after school and returned to Heavener Sunday night. Although students often slept in on Monday morning, Mrs. Owens was always in front of her class when the bell rang for first period. Melba introduced many Scott County families to home reference materials during the years she was a World Book Encyclopedia sales representative. After the teaching day, she would often present to families throughout the county the world of learning World Book offered. World Book?s motto, ?We don?t guess; we look it up? became her mantra. Melba freely volunteered her time and talent to community organizations, often entertaining with one of her vocal solos. She was a member of the Waldron Business and Professional Women and often sang with her husband for programs and banquets for the Scott County Farm Bureau and Poteau River Soil Conservation Service. She and Mondell sang for hundreds of Scott County funerals, often those of people they barely knew. Melba volunteered hundreds of hours at the Waldron Nursing Center, working in the beauty shop, singing on many occasions, and playing piano and singing for monthly birthday parties. She reigned as Nursing Home Queen during the year she lived at the nursing center, from June 2010 through June 2011. Melba was a lifetime member of Parks United Methodist Church, which was always the center of her life. She proudly shared its history, including the fact that her ancestor Pamelia Halley Gaines established the church in 1837 as the first church in Scott County Arkansas. Many church members were her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Throughout her life, Melba served as Sunday school teacher, pianist, organist, song leader, board member, and president of United Methodist Women. She served as president of the Waldron United Methodist Women and as an officer in the Fort Smith District United Methodist Women. One of Melba?s greatest joys came from singing soprano and playing piano for the Paul Sorrels Quartet, a local group that sang during the 1950s and 1960s. The quartet was composed of bass Mondell Owens, alto Louveda Frost, soprano Melba Owens, all of Parks, and tenor Paul Sorrels, Abbott, Arkansas. A life-long learner, Melba quickly became computer literate while attending senior classes at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, Arkansas. She and many other classmates enjoyed group travel throughout the state and nation. Melba also traveled extensively throughout the United States with Frances Tours of Arkadelphia and to Europe with Fort Smith educator and tour guide J. Fred Patton. Before retiring, Melba discovered oil painting, proving to be a quick study. She painted several county sites, including part of Waldron?s city mural. Preceded in death by husband Mondell Walter Owens, mother Victoria O?Neal Thompson Gilbreath, and father Luther Milton Gilbreath, Melba is survived by two daughters, Patricia O?Neal Owens Richmond, Waldron and Cynthia Louise Owens Finney, Fort Smith; former son-in-law Gary Lee Finney, Fort Smith; three granddaughters, Reshia Rene Richmond Pinion and husband Danny, Parks, Stephanie Louise Richmond McConnell, Springdale, Lee Anna Rachelle Finney Darji and husband Ankur, Schaumburg, Illinois; one grandson, Clayton Owens Finney and wife Jenny, Houston, Texas; five great grandchildren Victoria O?Neal and Gaines Hampton Hudson, Waldron, Sydney Blair and Mason Garret McConnell, Springdale, and Evan Ankur Darji, Schaumburg, Illinois; one great-great grandson Colt Dewayne Oliver, Waldron; one brother, Milton Gilbreath and wife, Hattie Lee Gilbreath, Fort Smith; and four sisters-in law Treva Lucille Leeper, Fort Smith, Addie Clarodean Owens Willmes, Danville California, Mollie Maxine Owens Garvin, Wagoner, Oklahoma, Freda Laverne Yancey Owens, Temple, Texas. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Celebration of Life service will be held in the Parks United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm, Monday, January 9, with Reverend David Orr, Senior Pastor First United Methodist Church Fort Smith, officiating. Interment will follow in the Thompson-Jameson Cemetery in Parks, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Gary Finney, Clayton Finney, Ankur Darji , Shane McConnell, Danny Pinion, Steven Gilbreath, and Sam Owens. Honorary pallbearers are Dalton and George Hawkins, John Wright Jameson, Gaines Hampton Hudson, Harold Wayne Scott, Tommy Lee Lloyd, and Wallace Hill. Family members will receive friends Saturday evening, January 7, from 5:00-7:00 in the home of Louise Owens Finney, 5717 Callaway Lane, Fort Smith. (In Williamson Place Addition across from Riley Farms) Viewing will be from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, January 8, at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, 1879 West Sixth Street, Waldron. Here the family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00. Memorials may be sent to Parks United Methodist Church in care of Heritage Memorial Funeral Home at the above address.

Melba Owens

May 20, 1924 - January 6, 2012