Funeral service will be on Monday, July 9, 2018 at 10:00 am at Memorial Funeral Home. Officiating will be Chaplain Alan Helland. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Melvine was born on October 2, 1924 in St. Louis, MO the daughter of Oscar and Othel (Candy) Jensen who preceded her in death. She was married on August 4, 1944 in St. Louis, MO to Paul Raymond Thornburg who preceded her in death on August 17, 2017. Melvine and Paul were high school sweethearts and they were married for 73 years and raised five children. While she had several physical limitations throughout her entire life, she was always able to see the positive side of things. She never complained or felt sorry for herself but instead chose to focus on the blessings in her life. She always said, "When I count my blessings, I count my husband twice." After her children left home, her and Paul traveled the world, going to Denmark, Brazil, Italy and Africa just to name a few of the places they traveled. She loved sewing doing crafts. If she saw something she wanted to learn how to do, she would go take a class and then would master it. She was a great cook and always put her children and family first. She lived a very long and fulfilling life and she said, "When I am gone, you can miss me but don't be sad I'm gone. I have had a wonderful life and it is time. I am ready to be with my husband again."
Survivors include: three children: Larry Paul Thornburg (Frances) of Columbia, MO, Keith Thornburg of Columbia, MO and Janet Thornburg of August, GA; one sister, Pauline Nichols of Odessa, TX; seven grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by two sons, David Thornburg and Steve Thornburg and one sister, Lois Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Foundation For The Blind, 2 Penn Plaza, Ste 1102, NY, NY 10121.