Melva Lydia Dinkel Burgess

It is with great sadness we announce the death of Melva Lydia Dinkel Burgess. She was born in New Orleans, LA, on April 16, 1923, and at 98 she went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Melva is preceded in death by her husband, Ray W. Burgess, Sr.; parents, George and Lydia Dinkel; siblings, Stanley Dinkel, Milton Dinkel, and Audrey Meagher; and son-in-law, Jerry Sanders. Melva is survived by her children, Ray W. Burgess, Jr., Trudy L. Sanders and Kenneth D. Burgess; grandchildren, Jennifer Burgess Cote, Christine Burgess Wozny, Jeremy Sanders, Jonathan Sanders, Tara Burgess Van Horn, and Wesley Burgess; and 10 great-grandchildren. She grew up in New Orleans, LA, and graduated from McMain High School in New Orleans. She attended LSU where she met her future husband, Ray, to whom she was happily married for 64 years. Melva lived most of her life in Baton Rouge, LA. In 2011, she moved to Wind Crest Senior Living Community in Highlands Ranch, CO, to be near her daughter Trudy and her family. In her early married life, Melva and Ray owned a dry goods store in Livingston, LA, and a grocery store in Denham Springs, LA. Years later Melva was instrumental in managing a water company founded by her father-in-law. Melva had many and varied interests. She excelled at cooking, sewing, gardening, quilting, crocheting, knitting, and playing bridge. Melva and Ray traveled the world and all 50 states. Not the least of her passions was volunteering at Mary Bird Cancer Center, Volunteers of America, First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 11:00am until the time of funeral services at 1:00pm. Interment will immediately at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Melva’s name to American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greenoaksfunerals.com