Melba Leatherbee
Age - 97
October 31, 2023
Melba Thompson Leatherbee, 97, passed away comfortably in the presence of family on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, in Glen Carbon, Illinois from natural causes. She was born to Quinton and Maymie Thompson in Harris, Oklahoma on July 11, 1926. She enjoyed a very small-town upbringing with her brothers Eldon, Irvin, and R. A. "Monk". At the age of 16, during the reality of World War II in 1942 and approaching adulthood, she boarded a train alone for New York City, where she would rejoin and marry Oklahoman Hampton Boggs. He departed soon after for combat in the Pacific theater. This was the life thrust on a 16-year-old newlywed: surviving, thriving, working, and making friends. No time to overthink life - just do it and make the best of it. After the war, Melba's first child, Bill, was born in 1947, followed closely by their move to a military life in Wisconsin. It was tragically disrupted by Hamp's death in an aviation accident in January 1953. The love of family was then illuminated through her mother-in-law, Catherine O'Neal, who took in the young mother and son in Salt Lake City, Utah. Life once more blossomed with long-range courting; Wisconsin to Utah, by Jim Leatherbee, a fellow aviator and military officer. They married in late 1954 and moved to Wright Patterson AFB in Fairborn, Ohio. She and Jim welcomed her second child, Jill, in 1956. She was a very supportive wife as Jim's Air Force career took the family to Taiwan, California, back to Ohio, Virginia, Ohio again, and his final assignment in Florida. Jim and Melba appreciated 42 years of life in Fort Walton Beach, FL, before Jim's passing in 2011. She thoroughly enjoyed many years of employment at Gayfer's/Dillard's in Fort Walton as the bridal consultant and as an associate in the china and crystal and ladies' clothing departments. She loved all things about cooking and making a loving, beautiful home for her family. She is lovingly survived by her son, Bill Leatherbee (Lori); daughter, Jill Herbst (Steve); grandchildren Luke Leatherbee, Anna Leatherbee, Libby Brewster (David), Tim Herbst (Rebekah); and great-grandchildren William, Mark, Rosie, and Jack Brewster, and Viktor and Lilyana Herbst. Melba has been described by others as a grand lady, positive, upbeat, a little feisty, kind and thoughtful, elegant, an icon, a class act, a jewel, the best mom ever, and a wonderful friend. She exemplified grit, grace, and gratitude. She was truly an inspiration to her family and many friends. Visitation will be on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida at 11:00 am with a private family graveside gathering following.
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