Melba Hathaway Sparks: Strong McLemore Ancestry

Generation: 1

Melba Hathaway Sparks was born on 6 Jun 1916 in Marshall, Saline County, Missouri; died on 17 Mar 2008 in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas.

Notes:

Melba Hathaway Benkelman

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

June 6, 1916 - March 17, 2008

Melba Hathaway Benkelman, 91, died Monday (March 17, 2008)

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- at Meadowlark Hills Care Center in Manhattan, Kan.
She was born June 6, 1916, in Marshall, Mo., to William Addison and Alma (Hathaway) Sparks.

She married Charles Wilmot Benkelman on March 26, 1939. They lived in McDonald, Kan., from 1939-1975. She moved to Atwood in 1975, after her husband's death. She moved to Meadowlark Hills Care Center in 2001.

She was a member of McDonald Federated Church, the church guild, a charter member of McDonald Garden Club and Chapter AX of the PEO Sisterhood in Atwood.

She also was a member of First Church, Town and Country Civic Club and the Northwestern Art Guild.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Charles.

Survivors include her sons, Brent and wife, Virginia of Manhattan, Kan., Bill and wife, Susan of Wakeeney, Kan., and Paul and wife, Georgette of Denver, Colo.; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Thursday, 11 a.m., at Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Atwood with the Rev. Chris Edwards officiating. A private graveside service will be in Grace Cemetery in McDonald.

Memorials may be given to Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, Kansas State University, 1 Chalmbers Hall, Manhattan, KS 68506-3901 or American Heart Association. Williams Funeral Home of Atwood is in charge of arrangements.

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Melba married Charles Wilmot Benkelman on 26 Mar 1939. Charles (son of Charles Adam Benkelman and Hertha Kerndt) was born on 27 Jul 1915 in McDonald, Rawlins County, Kansas; died on 5 Dec 1972 in McDonald, Rawlins County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Children:

Generation: 2