Melba E. Todd's Obituary
Melba Esther Todd, nee Rainey, of Columbia died February 8, 2020 at Oak Hill Care Center in Waterloo. She was born November 13th 1923 in East St. Louis, daughter of the late Darrell R. and Bertha I., nee Kirkham, Rainey. Melba was married to Raymond F. Todd who passed away in 1987.
Melba graduated from Dupo High School and Brown Business College. She worked at the Columbia Terminal in East St. Louis prior to her marriage to Raymond on November 25th 1943. She was an accomplished pianist, playing in church from the age of 11. She played the piano at Sterling Baptist Church, Centerville Station Baptist Church, and Columbia Baptist Church where she and her family are charter members. She was a member of the Woman’s Missionary Union and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Melba was a Girl Scout leader and served on committees for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Job’s Daughters, and the Centerville Fireman’s Auxiliary. She also volunteered at the Columbia Senior Site for many years. She valued her family, enjoyed all of her grandchildren, and loved sharing her home with friends and family.
She is survived by her children: Carol (Raymond) Coulter, Bill (Deanna) Todd, Jeanette (Charles) Evans, Linda (Alan) Hoock, John (Susan) Todd, grandchildren: Ken (Kim) Coulter, Darrell (Terri) Coulter, Terry Coulter, Kathy Daughtery, Bryan (Caroline) Coulter, Daniel Coulter, Adam (Deanna) Todd, Erica (Dave) Kane, Chuck Evans, Bobbie (David) Dobill, Todd (Kristina) Evans, Leslie (Sarah) Evans, Karen (Steve) Hill, Sherry (Eric) Birkner, Kevin (Shannon) Crook, Adam Hoock, Alex Hoock, Ryan (Bailey) Todd, Austin Todd, 34 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren, along with nieces, nephews, other friends and relatives. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brothers Melvin and Leslie Rainey, four sisters-in-law; Nellie and Betty Todd, Kathryn Reamer, and Marie Rainey, and one brother-law; Roland Reamer.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 15, 2020, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, at Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL. Services will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Jonathan Peters, officiating. Interment will follow in the Valhalla Gardens Of Memory, Belleville, IL.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: The First Baptist Church, 1200 Valmeyer Road, Columbia, IL, 62236. For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com. Lawlor Funeral Home, Columbia, IL, handled arrangements.
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