Melba Jean Smith's Obituary
Melba Jean Smith née Robertson, 99, passed away on Monday, January 27, 2025. She was born on January 11, 1926 in Galesburg, Illinois to Herman Frank and Verna Lucille (Quigley) Robertson. Melba attended Brown Business College in Peoria, IL. She married Raymond T. Smith on July 17, 1948. Melba and Ray moved from Illinois to Colorado before settling down in San Diego.
Melba was an animal lover. She donated generously to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld of San Diego and numerous other charities for the welfare of animals. Melba cared for numerous outdoor cats and rescued older dogs in need of medical care and loved them fiercely while they were her companions. She loved flowers and gardening and maintained a beautiful garden at her home in San Diego. Melba had many friends, loved traveling, entertaining, playing cards, and having her family come to San Diego to visit, enjoy the weather and the spectacular views seen from her balcony.
Melba and Ray had no children, but they were proud of their many nieces and nephews. Melba was preceded in death by her older sister Virginia, her parents, her husband, and both of her younger brothers, Gerald (Juanita) and John (Sharon) Robertson. She is survived by her nieces and nephews Susan Espinal, Gordon (Debbie) Robertson, David (Sheila) Robertson, Jeffrey Robertson, Lisa (Steve) Lawrence, Kerry Robertson, Brett (Susan) Robertson, Jennifer (Mark) Stake, Mary (Ali) Abbas, and Karen Windsor, and many more great nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on February 10th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
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