Melva Joan Cameron, 87, Columbus

Melva Joan Cameron, 87, of Columbus, passed away at 1:54 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at her home.

Melva was born in Reddington, Indiana on August 24, 1936, to Casper and Rita (White) McClintic. She grew up in Hope, Indiana with her many siblings. When Melva was 22, she was skating with a girlfriend at the Greensburg Skating Rink where she met the soon-to-be love of her life, Thomas (Tom) Edward Cameron after he asked her to skate with him. They married on the cold, snowy day of November 28, 1958, in Columbus. Melva and Thomas were two months away from celebrating their 58th wedding anniversary when Thomas passed on in October 2016. Melva retired with almost 30 years of service from the Franklin plant of Arvin Industries in 1999. She had previously worked at the Sewing Factory and CP Electronics in Columbus. Melva had to quit school in her teens to help support her family. While being laid off during a short stint from Arvin’s, she returned to the classroom at the age of 48 attending night classes. She proudly received her GED certificate after successfully completing her classes and returning to work.

Throughout her life Melva loved spending time with her children, eating good food, visiting with her sisters and parents, taking care of Tom, doing needlepoint, painting, attending auctions, and reading non-fiction crime stories. During the last three years of her life, she also loved going on spontaneous day trips with her son, daughter-in-law, and their friends and often visiting wineries to sample the many wines. She definitely enjoyed living life in her golden years. Many of Melva’s friends and co-workers described her as sweet, and hard-working, and you always knew where you stood with her. However, she could have a sharp wit and occasionally show her fiery red-headed, Scottish/Irish temperament. Her family believes those traits helped her endure a broken hip, a TBI, losing part of her finger, two bouts with COVID and pneumonia, losing her husband, and ultimately Alzheimer’s. Melva always had a saying in life of “give me my flowers while I’m living” to which her children showered her with flowers, often her favorite flower, the carnation.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2024, at Jewll-Rittman Family Funeral Home with the Rev. Virgil Clotfelter officiating. Calling will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the funeral home and from 12:30 p.m. to the time of service on Friday. Burial will be at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery in Columbus.

Melva is survived by her children, Carl (Hillari) Cameron of Columbus, Carol Hatton, of Indianapolis, and Adam Cameron, of Columbus; a sister, Rhoda Jordan, of Hope, Indiana, grandchildren James “Jake” (Myranda) Cameron, Shaun Cameron, Jesse (Brittany) Cameron, Thomas David (Brittany) Cameron, Justin Cameron, and Brian (Tautiana) Alexander; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Casper and Rita McClintic; husband, Thomas; a son, Tommy Lee; sisters, Charlotte Rhoades, Anna “Charlene” Sipes, Agatha “Carol” Goldsmith, Delores McClintic, Linda McClintic; brothers, George and Donald “Donnie” McClintic; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions in Melva’s name can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.