Ruth Virginia Mellon

Ruth Virginia Mellon (Virginia), 96, of La Mesa, in the presence of family members, passed away Friday, November 20, 2015, at Sharp Grossmont Hospital after a prolonged bout with health issues. Virginia was born on July 16, 1919, in Springfield MO. to Orlando C. and Laurel M. Mecord. She was preceded in death by her son Joseph Mellon (2015), her sister Marcia Mecord (2007) and her husband Eugene R. Mellon (Gene, 1993) whom she married in 1943 in San Diego after being invited out from Springfield in 1942 for a vacation by her then boyfriend, Gene. Virginia attended the training school, gr. K-12, at the Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield and then continued on at the same campus graduating with a BA degree in Education and Business with an emphasis in Mathematics. In all she was at the University campus for 16 years giving her many opportunities to experience the varied university resources. After graduating from the University she became the health director for the YWCA in Springfield. During WWII, after coming to San Diego, she went to work in the experimental department at Consolidated Aircraft Corporation (Convair) as a Test Engineer. While raising 5 children, who all exhibited the independent thinking and action-oriented spirit that guided Virginia throughout her life, she went back to school to become a primary school teacher and then a Field Director for the Girl Scouts, San Diego/Imperial Council. She was active in Girl Scouts from 1930 on, receiving the highest honor of the Golden Eaglet and the Thanks Badge II. After retiring she continued to help the Girl Scouts with many, many hours of volunteer work. Activity and leadership were foremost for Virginia who lived on Dale Ave. for 72 years. She had a life membership in the PTA, was a Den Mother for her sons in Boy Scouts, acknowledged for active membership in the Sharp-Grossmont Hospital Volunteer program with over 6,000 hours (20+ years) of volunteering. She was an active member of the San Diego County Manx Society (an organization for descendants from the Isle of Man), the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, the First Methodist Church in La Mesa since 1943, and the La Mesa Historical Society, which had honored Virginia as an outstanding La Mesa Citizen with her name being added to the garden plaque. Virginia had a variety of hobbies. She was a talented crafter, enriching other adults with her abilities, an active gardener for many years, managing her rose garden, and a world traveler. In her earlier years she enjoyed camping with her family and later participated in a variety of shorter excursions throughout the US. Keeping engaged in stimulating activities had been a life long mantra for Virginia. One her best qualities was her outlook on life. “It is important to show enthusiasm with whatever you’re doing so that you can truly touch all those you work with”. Virginia is survived by her four children, their spouses, 6 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren : daughter Carole A. (Mellon) and husband Sylvan Brown of La Mesa, CA son Michael R. Mellon and wife Ellen of Santa Fe, NM, son Gregory T. Mellon and wife Linda of Bayside, CA, daughter Jeanne Mellon and husband Darrel Baldridge of Santee, CA, Grandchildren: Christine (Brown) and husband Taylor Holcomb, Katherine (Brown) and husband Chris Miller, Shawna Mellon, Brandon Mellon and wife Heather, Sara (Deeter-Mellon) and husband Lonnie Carroll, and Amy (Deeter-Mellon) Merriman. Great-grandchildren: Adrianna Diehl, Cameron, Daniel and Molly Holcomb, Jeremiah and Emma Miller, Emma Mellon, Madi Carroll, and Weston, Samantha and Sawyer Merriman. A Service will be held at La Mesa United Methodist Church, 4690 Palm Avenue, La Mesa, at 1:00 on Saturday, December 5th, 2015.