Melba Irwin

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Melba Marie Irwin, 71, of Sikeston died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center.

She was born Jan. 12, 1931, in St. Louis, daughter of Edward Carl and Edna Junge Kuhlmann. She and David Walter "Buck" Irwin were married April 24, 1948, at DeSoto, Mo.

Irwin had worked at Jay's Fried Chicken, was a waitress at Holiday Inn, Kellets, Gaslight Square, and IGA. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband; six sons, David Irwin of St. Louis, Charles Irwin of Miner, Mo., Edward Irwin of Virginia Beach, Va., Michael Irwin of Norman, Okla., Harry and Dennis Irwin of Sikeston; a daughter, Barbara Johnson of Lexington Park, Md.; a brother, Brice Kuhlmann of Giddings, Texas; a sister, Elaine Ames of DeSoto, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister.

Friends may call at Blanchard Funeral Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Concordia Church, with the Rev. A.J. Wollenburg officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.