Delpha Ann Melton

Delpha Ann Melton passed away on July 23, 2025 at the Crowley. County Nursing Center at the age of 95. She was born on September 25, 1929 in Moreland, Kansas to Isaac and Myrtle Covalt. Delpha was the ninth of ten children. She was preceded in death by her four brothers and four of her five sisters. Delpha’s sister Wilma Bean continues to live in St. Joseph, MI. at the age of 101.

After graduating from Moreland High School, Delpha married Clyde Hilburn in 1947 and moved to Colorado. There they had three children Janet Pernod of Ordway, Joyce Asbury of Corvallis, OR. and Les Hilburn (Debbi) of Canon City.

Delpha met James (Jim) Melton after joining a square dancing group in Pueblo, Colorado. They were married in June of 1982 and Delpha gained three more sons, Jim (Kim) Melton of Pueblo, Doug (Holly) Melton of Gulfport, Mississippi and Eddie (Lynette) of Pueblo West. With this enlarged family Delpha and Jim were blessed with sixteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren with one more on the way. Family was extremely important to both Delpha and Jim. Jim was called home by the lord in 2005.

Delpha owned both a liquor store and an upholstery shop during her many years of working. She truly enjoyed sewing and quilting…quilting consumed most of her time after retiring. She had a shop in their backyard designated specifically to quilting for a group of ladies who met at least once a week, but there was usually someone there every day. In 2006, Delpha entered one of her quilts in the quilt show at the Colorado State Fair. She won first place! The quilt was beautiful with very intricate details that she had worked diligently to make perfect. This was one of her most proud accomplishments. Delpha also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society. This was a group of ladies who met once a month to “embrace life through fun, friendship and community engagement”, and as the group name suggests all the ladies wore red hats and purple dresses, hence the color theme today. Delpha thoroughly enjoyed getting together with these ladies and celebrating one another. Another hobby of Delpha’s was gardening and canning. She grew fruits and vegetables and a large variety of flowers. Delpha was also a dedicated volunteer at the Joni Fair Hospice House in Pueblo, taking time to sit with patients and/or families in times of need. This is also something that was shared with us, that she continued during her stay at the Crowley County Nursing Center.

Delpha was an incredible woman and her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the hearts of her family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 31, 2025, at 1:00 pm at the Imperial Funeral Home, Chapel Hall, located at 5450 Highway 78 West, Pueblo, Colorado, 81005.

Following the service, a graveside service will take place at 2:00 pm at the Imperial Memorial Gardens Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery, 5450 CO-78, Pueblo, Colorado, 81005.

A reception to follow afterward at 2:30 pm at the Imperial Funeral Home Hall