MRS. MELBA HENDERSON

Melba Lois Henderson, of Centralia, formerly of Dixon, was born May 12, 1926, at Roscoe, Texas, a daughter of Richard A. and Lula E. (Hunter) Arnold, and departed this life at 11:55 pm, on Monday, April 2, 2018, in the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, Columbia. She had attained the age of 91 years, 10 months, and 20 days.

Mrs. Henderson was united in marriage on February 9, 1946, at Florence, Arizona, to Elmer Aaron Henderson, and to this union five children were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer on December 26, 1990; one infant son, Richard Ambrose Henderson on April 2, 1954; her parents; and her brothers and sisters.

She was a member of the Church of Christ, Dixon, and was baptized in 1950. Mrs. Henderson was a clerk at Clark's Drug and Sundries, Dixon, where she made many friends. She enjoyed quilting, working word find puzzles, and sharing memories of her days at the Drug Store. Mrs. Henderson was an avid reader and donated her large book collection to the Dixon Manor prior to her moving from Dixon. Mrs. Henderson also said that she enjoyed riding around in the sporty Dodge Challenger her grandson Josh loaned his mother so she could drive his grandmother and herself to doctor's appointments.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Henderson include: Two sons, Lamar Henderson and wife, Stephanie, Columbia; and Larry Henderson and wife, Jenny, Ontonagon, Michigan; two daughters, Julia Lynn Gillispie, Rolla; and Arnelle Ambrose and husband, Neal, Chesterfield, Virginia; seven grandchildren, David Williams, James Ambrose, Vicky McSparren, Jason Henderson, Nikki Burke, April Chauncy, and Joshua Deal; several great and great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

A time of visitation will be held for Mrs. Henderson from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, on Friday, April 6, 2018, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home.

Private interment will be in the Dixon Cemetery, under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home. Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dixon Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.