1928
Melba
2022
Melba House
January 12, 1928 — February 20, 2022
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Melba LaVae House, age 94 of Redondo Beach, who died peacefully on Sunday February 20, 2022 from natural causes.
Melba was born on January 12, 1928 to parents, Wilbur and Grace Jones of Braymer, Missouri. She would often reminisce about her days growing up on the farm – full of good food and simple country living - and felt strongly that those experiences instilled a very solid work ethic. Following her parent’s divorce, she lived with her mother until age 15 at which time she moved out west to Los Angeles to live with her father. After graduating from George Washington High School in 1945, she attended Sawyer School of Business and went on to work for several years as a secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers, and then as a bookkeeper for the head office of the AFL-CIO LA County Central Labor Council. It was during this time that Melba also met and fell in love with Joseph Arthur House, the only man she ever worked up the courage to wink at…and the rest, as they say, is history. The two wed on March 29, 1952 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and their only child, Joanne LaVae, followed five years later. In the late 1950’s, Melba returned to school to further her education and, upon graduating from Miller Court Reporting School, went on to work for the LA County Superior Courts for 28 fulfilling years. Over the course of her life, and especially in retirement, Melba enjoyed bowling, cooking, entertaining, good food, dry gin martinis on the rocks, traveling the world, music and dancing, attending Dixie Land jazz festivals and, in later years, her weekly visits for pulmonary rehab with fellow ‘PEP Pioneers’. Melba was a no-nonsense, independent, ‘in-charge’ woman who did not suffer fools easily. However, she equally enjoyed life and having a good time, had a great sense of humor and was known to have told a dirty joke or two in her day.
Melba is preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur Jones and Grace Hicks, stepmother, Gladys Jones, Joseph House, and daughter, Joanne Carroll. She is survived by her step-sister, JoDea Harry (Lee), granddaughters Reva Carroll (Josh Houtz) and Brianna Matthews, her grandson, Alfred Nicolas, and five adored great-grandchildren – Skyler, Summer, Ariella, Nathaniel and Maggie.
The matriarch of the family, ‘Amma Melba’ was loved by many and will be dearly missed. A service to honor her will be held at the Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel on Friday March 18, 2022 at 2pm.
Green Hills Memorial Park
27501 S. Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PEP Pulmonary Education Program:
PEP Pioneers
20929 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
Attn: Pulmonary Rehab
Melba was born on January 12, 1928 to parents, Wilbur and Grace Jones of Braymer, Missouri. She would often reminisce about her days growing up on the farm – full of good food and simple country living - and felt strongly that those experiences instilled a very solid work ethic. Following her parent’s divorce, she lived with her mother until age 15 at which time she moved out west to Los Angeles to live with her father. After graduating from George Washington High School in 1945, she attended Sawyer School of Business and went on to work for several years as a secretary for the International Union of Operating Engineers, and then as a bookkeeper for the head office of the AFL-CIO LA County Central Labor Council. It was during this time that Melba also met and fell in love with Joseph Arthur House, the only man she ever worked up the courage to wink at…and the rest, as they say, is history. The two wed on March 29, 1952 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, and their only child, Joanne LaVae, followed five years later. In the late 1950’s, Melba returned to school to further her education and, upon graduating from Miller Court Reporting School, went on to work for the LA County Superior Courts for 28 fulfilling years. Over the course of her life, and especially in retirement, Melba enjoyed bowling, cooking, entertaining, good food, dry gin martinis on the rocks, traveling the world, music and dancing, attending Dixie Land jazz festivals and, in later years, her weekly visits for pulmonary rehab with fellow ‘PEP Pioneers’. Melba was a no-nonsense, independent, ‘in-charge’ woman who did not suffer fools easily. However, she equally enjoyed life and having a good time, had a great sense of humor and was known to have told a dirty joke or two in her day.
Melba is preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur Jones and Grace Hicks, stepmother, Gladys Jones, Joseph House, and daughter, Joanne Carroll. She is survived by her step-sister, JoDea Harry (Lee), granddaughters Reva Carroll (Josh Houtz) and Brianna Matthews, her grandson, Alfred Nicolas, and five adored great-grandchildren – Skyler, Summer, Ariella, Nathaniel and Maggie.
The matriarch of the family, ‘Amma Melba’ was loved by many and will be dearly missed. A service to honor her will be held at the Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel on Friday March 18, 2022 at 2pm.
Green Hills Memorial Park
27501 S. Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PEP Pulmonary Education Program:
PEP Pioneers
20929 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
Attn: Pulmonary Rehab
To send flowers to the family in memory of Melba House, please visit our flower store.
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