Melba Ann Eikenbary

.Melba Rogers Eikenbary passed away at home on October 13th, 2021, in Ada, Oklahoma at 92 years young. She was one of five children born to Lynn and Lavina Rogers. Her siblings Forrest, Ronald Joe, Mildred, and Margaret have all gone to be with the Lord, along with her treasured Granny Moon and Uncle John Rice. Her loving husband of 59 years, Glen Eikenbary as well as her son, Randy Eikenbary, and infant grandchild, Raechel LaCombe have also passed on. She is survived by Randy's wife Susan, daughters Bonita Gaddis, Kimmie LaCombe (husband Carl), and Melinda Eikenbary. She had 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her cherished life-long friend, Lilly Pate.

Melba was born in September of 1929 in her much beloved Jennings, Oklahoma home where she grew up and attended Jennings High School. After marrying Glen in 1945, the couple moved to Lafayette, La where he worked in the oilfield. Despite moving so far away, they worked tirelessly on the family home for nearly their whole lives, making trips back and forth from Louisiana, updating and beautifying the 100+ year old house and gardens. While in Lafayette, Melba was one of the first ladies to work at Borden's Ice Cream Shop and also loved sitting in with patients at Lafayette General Hospital. In addition, she was a founding member of Bethel Assembly of God which later became Crossroads Church. After she raised her family and Glen retired, she moved back to Jennings. Upon returning, Melba sat on the Jennings City Council and then became Mayor. She successfully oversaw major improvements including the restoration of the cemetery.

Melba lived a vibrant, full life. She loved her family fiercely and the Lord above all else. A great woman of faith, she constantly sent little books or prayers just when her friends and family needed them most. A consummate storyteller, Melba loved to tell the Depression era story of how on Christmas morning her younger sisters got dolls, but all she got was a boring 'ole pair of shoes. Maybe this explains why, when she got older, she always loved to get dolls and toys for holidays, and receiving gifts gave her such joy. Her favorite color was red, and she looked lovely in it. She hummed all the time. You could find her in a store by just listening closely. She always had mints and gum for church, and she made the most exquisite blackberry cobbler. She loved to read the last page of a book to see if it would be any good. She unwrapped and then secretly rewrapped presents, so she knew what was inside. She was funny and mischievous and one fantastic lady. If you were blessed enough to know her, you know she will be truly missed.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 16th at 2pm at Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland, OK. A graveside service will be held after the funeral at Jennings Cemetery in Jennings, OK. Visitation will be on Friday from 4-8pm at the funeral home. Donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 in Melba's honor. Friends and family may visit an online guestbook for Melba at www.chapman-black.com


Copyright Notice

© 2021 (Chapman-Black Funeral Home)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This obituary is a work protected under international and federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this compiled work may be reproduced, altered or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

The author hereby grants the newspaper the right to publish the compiled work on the dates and location provided in the submission details and further grants to the newspaper the right to reproduce the work electronically in any website or digital medium owned or controlled by the newspaper provided the copy is not altered or modified in any way. The funeral home's website domain must accompany any reproduction of the work. The work must not be used for or by any person for direct commercialized gain in competition with the author, the funeral home, or their respective businesses.

Privacy Disclaimer

The information contained in this Tribute Wall is intended solely for the private use of the families and friends of the deceased to support each other and honour, respect and pay tribute to the memory of the deceased.

Any and all other use is strictly prohibited. Without limiting the foregoing, any reproduction, distribution of the information contained herein, nor any contact or solicitation of any person identified in this work, nor any attempt to use the information in the work is prohibited.