Mrs. Melcum Dies At Cottonwood

Cottonwood - Mrs. Zilpha Evaline Melcum, 89, widow of a long-time Central Ridge farmer, died of the infirmities of age at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital, Cottonwood. She had been ill three months.

She had lived at Craigmont with her son Bertie Melcum. She was born July 1, 1878, at Dayton, Wash., the second of seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Stearns. She attended schools at Dayton and was married Sept. 27, 1889, to LeRoy Melcum at Dayton. They came to Central Ridge where they farmed. After Melcum's death Aug. 20, 1945, she continued to live at the farm then operated by her son until entering the hospital. Three sisters and one brother preceded her in death.

She was a member of the Craigmont Grange and the Rebekah Lodge.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Ernest (Bernice) Lacey, Craigmont; two sons, Ralph and Bertie Melcum, both of Craigmont; two brothers, Grover and Everett Stearns, both of Dayton; eight grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.