Ronda Amelon

Mrs. Ronda K. Amelon, 72, of Jackson passed away Monday, June 16, 2008, at Jackson Manor in Jackson.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson, and after 9 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Interment will follow in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Mrs. Amelon was born April 30, 1936, in Jefferson City, Mo., daughter of the late Walter John "Jim" and Reba Mardell Rippel Hoffman.

Graduating as salutatorian of the 1954 Mexico senior class, Mrs. Amelon continued her education at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., receiving a bachelor of arts in biology.

She and Donald James Amelon were married Aug. 17, 1958, in Mexico, Mo., and moved to Cape Girardeau where he was to teach at the college.

For the most part, she never worked outside the home, but her daughters benefited greatly from her acute interest in and knowledge of all God's creation. She had been a faithful member of the Seek-N-Find Homemakers Extension Club and cherished the friendships she made with the ladies of the community.

She loved to garden, sew, read, travel and sing, but most of all she loved the Lord. Even after a nearly fatal head injury in 1986, she never forgot her Savior and (after she regained her speech) gave him thanks for his provision.

Mrs. Amelon shared her love for God with everyone, in earlier years as a Sunday school teacher and choir member at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, where she and her husband were two of the very first members; and up until her last days, loving people unconditionally and giving her testimony at every opportunity.

Loving survivors include two daughters, Adrienne Ptacek and husband Kenny of Jackson and their children Tyler and Ashley; Sharon Mansell and husband Allan of Fruitland and their children Teresa, Holt, Wyatt and Alice; a sister, Dorcas Holtsmith and husband Robert of Edmond, Okla.; an uncle, Ervin Hoffman of Mexico, Mo.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Saxony Lutheran High School, Mid-America Teen Challenge or the Salvation Army.