NELLIE MELBA SAATKAMP
Nellie Melba Saatkamp, 96, of New Boston passed away on February 28, 2019. Melba, as she was known to her friends, was born on December 5, 1922 and was named after an opera singer of that era, Dame Nellie Melba.
Melba grew up in Devine, Texas and went to work at Kelly Field Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas during WWII. There she met Elmer Henry (Speedy) Saatkamp from Mount Olive, Illinois and they married in 1945 after his return from England at war’s end. They were married until his death in 2014.
Their marriage produced three children: Bonnie, John William, and Peggy.
Melba was preceded in death by her husband, son, and a great-grandson. She is survived by Bonnie Archibald and husband Ken of Griffin, Georgia, Peggy Peacock of Texarkana, four grandchildren, John Stafford and wife Kim of Thousand Oaks, California, Katie Coombs and husband Charlie of Decatur, Georgia, Jonathan Saatkamp and wife Rachel of Ft. Greely, Alaska, Paul Peacock and wife Nicole of Cushing, Texas and five great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Tapp United Methodist Church, 715 South McCoy Boulevard, New Boston, Texas 75570.
