MELBA LEOTA ROLLINS

Melba L. Henady Rollins, a 23-year resident of Redlands, CA after living most of her life in Kankakee and Danville, Illinois passed away on July 6, 2023, in Redlands. A grave-side memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Sugar Creek Cemetery in Stockland, IL. Cremation arrangements are being handled by Sunset Funeral Care (www.sunsetfuneralcare.com) in Redlands, CA. Memorial Service arrangements are being coordinated by Knapp Funeral Home (www.knappfh.com) in Milford, IL. Melba was born in Stockland, IL on December 22, 1921; she loved that it was a palindrome (12-22-21) and much to the delight of medical personnel especially, she could give her birthdate whenever asked even at 101 ½ years of age. Melba graduated from Stockland High School and Gallagher Business School in Kankakee, IL. She qualified as a court stenographer when it was just taking shorthand on a steno pad, but chose not to pursue that (high-pressure/stressful) career path, instead opting for executive secretary positions in several companies including the Joliet Arsenal, Security Lumber Company in Bradley, IL, and Gastoffs in Danville, IL; her career spanned 50 years. Though shorthand disappeared as a job requirement, she maintained the skill for many years taking shorthand notes of dialogue and recipes from TV commentary. Melba met Everett through family, and they attended Gallagher Business School at the same time. They married November 22, 1941, in Missouri while he was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood before being shipped overseas shortly after the birth of their first daughter in 1943. After Everett’s return home, they settled in Kankakee. At one point, Melba served 2 terms as President of the United Methodist Women at Trinity Methodist Church in Kankakee. Melba was the last member of her generation in both the Henady and Rollins families. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Everett, in June 2000. Also preceding her in death were her parents, John and Lena Henady, her beloved in-laws Charlie and “Mame” Rollins, 5 sisters, 2 brothers, 8 brothers-in-law, 6 sisters-in-law, and 13 nieces and nephews. Melba is survived by daughter, Diana Fuller of Carrollton, TX, and daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Bill Heitmeier of Redlands, CA. Also surviving are 2 grandchildren, Tracy Heitmeier Johnson (husband Grant) of Bethany, CT, and Stephen Heitmeier (wife Stephanie) of Cumming, GA, plus 5 great grandchildren: Grant and Paul Johnson, and Patrick, Lauryn, and Nathan Heitmeier, as well as numerous nieces and nephews (over 70 at last count). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to YAPS (Yucaipa Animal Placement Society, Yucaipa, CA) who in 2016 provided Melba’s cherished Pepi, her final and most faithful companion; Pepi’s a California “guy” and now resides with Joyce and Bill. You may donate to YAPS at http://yaps.org. The immediate family extends our sincere thanks to Redlands Community Hospital Hospice staff, as well as the staff of Pacific Pines Pleasant Living facility in Redlands, for their conscientious and loving care of Melba: our mother, Grammy, and Grammy great, these past 6 months.

MELBA LEOTA ROLLINS

December 22, 1921 - July 6, 2023