Ruthie MelbeR
1947-2015
Ruth Anne Melber, 67, died peacefully at home in Spring, Texas on Monday, July 6, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was a faithful woman, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. And she was known by all as a woman guided by a selfless Christian spirit, who got the most fulfillment out of blessing others with her unending generosity.
Ruthie was born July 28, 1947, in Sterling, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Becky Huson. She spent most of her early years in Illinois and Wisconsin. As a child, Ruthie attended Mary Queen of Heaven school in Elmhurst, Illinois. She graduated from York High School in Elmhurst in 1965.
She met the love of her life, Kenneth Melber, in 1967 in California and they married in Las Vegas later that year. They moved to Houston in 1970 where Ruthie devoted the next 20 years of her life to raising her three children, Ken II, Amy and Chris.
She loved volunteering in many ways, helping others through MD Anderson Cancer Center, delivering to the needy through Meals on Wheels and collecting tens of thousands of can tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House. She enjoyed helping those in need in other countries too, taking mission trips to Mexico and Vietnam.
Ruthie enjoyed sewing dresses for children in Haiti, making blankets for Vietnamese orphans and personally handing out clothing, sleeping bags and blankets to Houston’s homeless during the holiday season.
Ruthie was an active member of numerous bible studies throughout her life. She also loved to travel, especially with friends and family.
Ruthie is survived by her husband Ken; three children, Ken II of The Woodlands, TX, Chris and his wife Chevelle of Montgomery, TX and Amy and her husband Robert Henslee of Tomball, TX. She is survived by two sisters, Dottie and her husband Warren Sterling of Maple Grove, MN; Lee and her husband Dale Moderow, of Redmond, WA; two brothers, Jim Huson and his wife Claudia of Gary, IN; and Dave Huson of Bothell, WA.
She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Helen and Heather Poulsen; Grace and Katie Melber; Lauren and Lindsey Thompson; Josh and Jake Melber; Mackenzie and Isabella Henslee; and two great grandchildren: Landyn Riddles and Layla Duplantis. She was preceded in death by her brother, John Huson.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 9th from 5-7 pm at Cy-Fair Christian Church at 9730 Grant Rd in Houston, TX. The memorial service will be on Friday, July 10th at Cy-Fair Christian Church with the Rev. Glenn Wilkerson presiding. Memorial gifts in her memory can be made to: 7DayHero at 7dayhero.org ARK (Adults Relating to Kids) at thearkgroup.com
The Ronald McDonald House at rmhhouston.org