Mary Melching, 104 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away at 2:02 a.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012 in the Woodcrest Nursing Center located in Decatur. Mary was born on Saturday, August 22, 1908 in Clinton County, Indiana the daughter of the late James Halberstadt and the late Flava (Ploughe) Halberstadt. She married Dorus D. Werling on January 22, 1927 in Decatur, Indiana and he passed away on June 29, 1931. She was then married to Edward T. Melching on August 15, 1936 in Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana and he passed away on April 8, 1985. Mary was a member of the Pleasant Mills Baptist Church, where she played piano over 30 years; the Adams County Historical Society; the Indiana Branch of the Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims; the Indiana Pioneers; and organizing Regent of the Antoine Rivarre Chapter NSDAR. Mary was a homemaker and had worked at the General Electric Decatur Plant for four years and at the Old Cloverleaf Creamery for three years. Surviving are her daughter, D. Ann (Harvey) Jones of Decatur, IN; son, Don A. (Marlene) Melching of Decatur, IN; 8 grandchildren: Becky (Paul) Allison; Diane (Ron) Walters; Tom Werling; Kim (Ron) Dietrich; Jim (Jody) Jones; Kristie (Kevin) Ripley; W. Edward (Cheri) Melching; Lori (Fred) Sauer; 3 step-grandchildren: Chris Fitzgerald; Richard (Sherry) Fitzgerald; Scott Fitzgerald; 16 great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; and 3 step-great-great-grandchildren. Preceding Mary in death were a son, Melvin (Peck) Werling; a sister, Ruth Neuenschwander; two brothers, Thomas & James Halberstadt Jr; one brother and one sister in infancy; step-daughter, Tharine Fitzgerald; a grandson, Dan Werling. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, November 15, 2012 in the Woodcrest-Porter Auditorium with Pastor Richard Sprunger officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery. Friends will be received from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2012 in the Woodcrest Porter Auditorium. Preferred memorials are to Pleasant Mills Baptist Church; or Antoine Rivarre Chapter NSDAR.
