Barbara Jean (Varvel) Melling, age 74, of Greenville, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at 10:35 AM at her residence. She was born on September 24, 1936 in Xenia, Ohio, to the late Vernon and Amanda (Butts) Varvel.
Barbara worked at Fram and Westinghouse for 20 years and was also a homemaker. She was a former member of the Greenville Moose. She enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her family, gardening, knitting, crocheting, fishing and mushroom hunting. Lately she really enjoyed spending time with Robert swinging on their swing at home and helping out at her daughters restaurant, Vint’s Family Restaurant.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers, Virgil, Dick, Raymond, Newton, and James Franklin Varvel; sisters, Hazel Lewis, Ruth Rench, Betty Conrad, Marie Grillot, and Loretta Varvel; infant brother, Billy Varvel; granddaughter, Megan Riegle; great grandchildren, Donald Head and Mackenzie Clark; grandson in law, Jerry Phillips.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Melling of Greenville whom she married on March 9, 1954; daughters and sons in law, Neva (Mitch) Herron of Bradford, Ohio, Phyllis (John) Riegle of Pitsburg, Ohio, Cathy Melling of Greenville, Dixie Clark of Greenville, and Robin Melling of Greenville; grandchildren, Jackie Jones, Pam Phillips, Robbie (Heather) Bragg, Mandy (Dave) Swisshelm, Billie (Issac) Riegle, Curtis Riegle, Zachary T. (Fiancée Samantha Hamilton) Melling, James (Heather) Clark Jr., Amy (Fiancé James Head) Clark, Krystal (Tony) Lewis, Nikki Clark, Joey (Heather) Sowers, Erica Cook, and Eric (Fiancée Karla Brewster) Cook Jr.; 23 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; brothers and sisters in law, Harry (Effie) Varvel of Coldwater, Ohio, Melvin (Linda) Varvel of Richmond, Indiana, and Larry (Sue) Varvel of Union City, Ohio; sister, Patty Lauk of Winchester, Indiana; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a service held on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Ohio, with Pastor Randy Clark and Chaplain Candy Null co-officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Ft. Jefferson, Ohio. Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 5-8 PM at the funeral home.
It is the wishes of the family that memorial contributions be given to the family.