Melva was born December 27, 1938 in Paola, Kansas, a daughter of Melvin and Helen (Fury) Uzzell. Melva grew up in Kansas City, MO and graduated from Northeast High School. She spent her career working in news marketing for News America for 39 years in Kansas City, MO, although she also worked as a head cashier for Winnetonka High School in their cafeteria for a short stint. She married the love of her life, Homer Baldwin, Jr., on December 5, 1959.
After Homer’s retirement, Melva and he moved to Freeman, MO to a farm where she stayed for the last 30 years. She was an active member with the local food pantry and the Freeman Community Club, helping with their Easter and Halloween festivities each year as she loved volunteering in the community and helping at the Thrift Store. Melva loved spending time with her family.
Melva was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer Baldwin, Jr., on May 27, 2021; a son, Daniel Lee Baldwin; and a daughter-in-law, June Baldwin. She is survived by one daughter, Debra Rodriguez (Bryan Smith), Freeman, MO; daughter-in-law, Vicki Kackley; sister, JoAnn (Jim) Thompson of Warsaw, MO; two sisters-in-law, Joyce (Roger) Marble, Garden City, MO and Carol (Herb) Eplee, Independence, MO; cousin, Bill Uzzell, Spring Hill, KS; 6 grandchildren: Eric Rodriguez, Stephanie (Adam) Kilpatrick, Nicholas (Megan) Rodriguez, Emily (Nick) Park, Amber (Guy Ryan) Rodriguez, Tom (Denise Thoreson) Kackley; 7 great-grandchildren: Jullian, Annebelle, Gunner, Charlie, Ezra, Joey, and June; and numerous nieces and nephews.
