OBITUARY Dorothy Jean Mellard March 13, 1925 – November 5, 2018 DOROTHY MELLARD 1925 – 2018 Dorothy (Dot) Jean Mellard was born to John (Ed) and Irene Hoar in Altoona, PA on March 13, 1925 and passed away peacefully on November 5, 2018 – having spent the previous afternoon enjoying sharing memories over family pictures and playing cards with her daughter, even letting her win for a change. Altoona was a booming railroad town, home of the world-famous Horseshoe Curve, where Dot was raised as a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church and grew up a “city girl”. She was extremely proud of her dad, who worked as a highly-skilled machinist for the Pennsylvania Railroad (or “The Pennsy” as her mother would say) for 47 years — having top seniority when he retired.
She was a head taller than her mother, but Dot always placed her on a pedestal! Soon after her high school graduation during the midst of World War II, Dot acted on her independent spirit and moved with her best friend (Jessie) to Philadelphia, PA to work for the Veteran’s Administration. She met Prather (Jack) Mellard while on a weekend stroll on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, when he asked if she knew of a place to dance before he shipped out.
She corresponded with him throughout his tour of duty in The Philippines and Japan. They married in 1947 and Jack moved his city girl and their first son to Texas in 1951, near most of his large family. Although Dot missed her family, she adjusted well to life in the South (five miles north of Benavides, TX amongst the cactus and rattlesnakes) and, together, they raised three children – relocating to Alice, TX in 1959.
Dot thoroughly enjoyed her 35 years working at various jobs in the Alice school system and did so, gladly and proudly, to help put her children through college. Dot’s greatest passion was her family but running a close second was sports! She loved football and baseball and never missed the chance to watch her sons play – and this devotion earned her a very distinctive honor.
She was such a huge fan and supporter that, in 1971, she was presented by her younger son’s Coyotes football team as the first and only nonstudent “Football” Sweetheart” of Alice High School during homecoming festivities! During the days of only three television channels, Dot would often have her two TV sets on different ballgames while having the radio blaring a third. Altuve and Springer were her current favorite Astros players, whom she rooted on through their recent playoff run!
Dot chose to stay in Alice after Jack’s passing in 2004 but moved to Rosenberg, TX in 2010 to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her beloved younger sister, Polly (Bernie) Weiksner of East Petersburg, PA; her three children, Michal (Robin) Mellard of Sargent, TX, Sharon (Pete) Roberts of Richmond, TX, and Mark (Melissa) Mellard of Plano, TX; four grandsons, Jason (Andrea) Mellard, Doug (Flynn) Mellard, Weston Mellard, and Kelly (Mallory) Roberts; one granddaughter, Melanie (Steven) Murphy; and numerous nieces and nephews. This loving family and many others will truly miss the twinkle in Dot’s eyes when she smiled!
A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, TX 78218. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alice Coyote Booster Club or Alice High School Student Activities Fund (latter to assist with student cap/gown and school supply expenses) – Alice High School, 1 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX 78332.
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