ROCHESTER – Melva May Oliver Sanders, 92, of Rochester, died at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 12, 2011, in her residence.
She was born Oct. 20, 1918, to Edward and Bessie Bybee Lowe. She married Rue Oliver, who preceded her in death. She later married John Sanders, who preceded her in death.
She worked at Torin Corp. for 21 years. She cooked at the Moose Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, A&W Root Beer Stand and Dam Landing when it was owned by Dick and Ellen Sherbondy. In 1952, she oversaw the kitchen at the Colonial Hotel on the northwest shore of Lake Manitou. She was a member of the auxiliaries of the Eagles, Manitou VFW, Leroy Shelton American Legion Post, all of Rochester, and Moose Lodge, Plymouth. Surviving are four daughters, Ruth Ellen (and spouse Dave) Ballinger, Granger, and Patricia (and spouse Greg) Mellinger, Maxine (and spouse Don) Cowles and Debra (and spouse Dennis) Dell, all of Rochester; four sons: Junior (and spouse Verna) Oliver, Kewanna; Walter Edward (and spouse Valery) Oliver, Pierceton; Robert John Oliver, Rochester; and Harry James (and spouse Sandy) Oliver, Angola; two stepsons, John Sanders Jr., Joliet, Ill., and Minard Sanders, Fort Wayne; 23 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, six sisters and a brother.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Good Family Funeral Home, Rochester, with the Rev. Junior Bose officiating. Burial will be in Rochester IOOF Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Fulton County Cancer Fund, through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation or Hope Hospice of Fulton County.
