Melba (Yamnitz) Wilmarth, 76, of Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, at her home.
She was born May 19, 1949, in Perryville to Dalvin and Viola Yamnitz.
Melba married George Wilmarth on Nov. 30, 1968.
She was active in the community with the Girl Scouts and PTA. A graduate of St. Vincent High School and Southeast Missouri State University, Melba enjoyed her family, gardening, reading and garage sales. To her, everyone was family — and if she fed you, she loved you.
Survivors include her four children, Laura; Joel (Debbie); Carissa; and Jessica (Sarah); grandchildren, Abby, Reece, Halle, Noah, Jonah, Jacob, Meghan, Brendan, Corrin, Matthew and Aiden; a great-grandson, Charlie; brothers and sisters, June (Dave) Ernsts, Bill (Lynn) Yamnitz, Linda (Brad) Riney, Elizabeth (Rick) Taylor, Jim (Cindy) Yamnitz, Carolyn (Leon) Spencer, Ed (Jennifer) Yamnitz, Donna (Alan) Ford, Kim (Neal) Kaempfe and Lisa Shedd; sister-in-law, Marilyn Beltran Yamnitz; and special neighbor, Tabitha.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Bob Yamnitz; two sisters, susan yamnitz and Marilyn Yamnitz; a niece, Kristen Yamnitz; and a great-nephew.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Vincent Church in Cape Girardeau.
Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.
