Melva married Glenn, her high school sweetheart, on December 22, 1951 and they were united for 68 years and raised three daughters.
After Melva graduated from Cedar Bayou High School in 1950, she attended Hudson Secretarial College in Houston. She was employed at Sears Roebuck and Co. in Baytown, Texas, where she worked in the mail order department. Melva also worked as a para-professional in the Goose Creek School District with students in early childhood education and in Special Education. Melva and Glenn were the co-owners of Ace Home Center in Salida, Colorado, and also Grandma and Grandpa’s Gift Shop in Grand Lake, Colorado. Melva served as a volunteer for Rocky Mountain National Park and was a member of the American Cancer Society and the Salida Hospice.
Melva was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and her first born, Beth Harrington.
She had an adventurous life with her husband and their 3 daughters. They hiked the Sierra Mountains of California and circled the North American continent in a Volkswagen van.
She is remembered for her love for Jesus, her Christian faith, and her family and is survived by her husband, Glenn of Lone Tree, Colorado, daughters Marsha Harrington Gramstorff and husband Chris of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Tina Reilly and husband Chris of Erie, Colorado, and 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Honorary Pallbearers: Trey Jackson, Nick Reilly, Ben Frank, Doug Taylor, Glenn Dykstra, and Larry Bacon.
Melva and Glenn were long-time members of the Grand Lake Rotary Club. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Glenn Harrington Park Service Scholarships facilitated by the club and may be sent to them at PO Box 723, Grand Lake, Colorado, 80447. Donations can be directed to the club Rotary Club of Grand Lake, Colorado.
