Melinda Lou Church

1949 - 2022

Melinda Lou Carroll was born July 5, 1949, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her dad, Frank Thomas Carroll, was a Navy Chief Warrant Officer stationed in Argentina, and her mother, Betty Jane Carroll (Duke), a heart surgery nurse. Melinda grew up in Millington, Tennessee, and Coronado Island, California. The family finally settled in Whittier, California, where Melinda graduated from Sierra High School in 1967. She then attended Arizona State University, where she graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Melinda settled in Irvine, California, where she married Don Chedwick and they had three children, Kate Chedwick (Kelly), Brian Chedwick and Megan Chedwick. Melinda loved her children endlessly and would have done anything for them. On September 12, 1993, Melinda married Steve Church and moved to Salinas, California. The family became the Brady Bunch with the addition of Steve's children: Cari Church (Woolcott), Chuck Church and Annie Church (Ritchie). Melinda and Steve have 7 grandchildren: Nora Church Ritchie, 17, Declan Kelly, 9, Wolfie Woolcott , 9, Jack Chedwick , 3, Harloux Church, 2, Luke Chedwick, 8 months, and Stevie Church, 3 months. Melinda also has two sisters Pat Reno of Balboa Island, California and Janice Martin of Flagstaff, Arizona.Melinda worked for the Salinas Unified School District for 15 years and retired in 2008. She was an Independent Student teacher at Alvarez High School and Saint Mary's, where she taught students that couldn't attend a daily curriculum. She loved the fact that she was making a difference in their lives and hopefully setting the stage for them to be successful in life. Melinda loved baking and started a baking company, Melinda Bakes Cakes. She never sold her goods because she mostly gave them away. She was known for bringing treats to the golf employees at Corral de Tierra Country Club and would be seen delivering Rice Crispy treats to the homeless in downtown Salinas. Melinda was a very good tennis player and played team tennis at Chamisal until she got frozen shoulder. Seven years ago, she took up golf and played twice a week with up to 8 women and enjoyed lunch afterward. She encouraged Steve to play golf, and the two of them enjoyed playing 9 holes twice a week with friends. Melinda and Steve met at Arizona State University as she was a little sister in his Fraternity. Melinda was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, where she was always the life of the party. Melinda made friends easily and kept those relationships. Melinda and Steve celebrated their 50-year Golden Anniversary at ASU last December and their 29th Wedding Anniversary on September 12th of this year. Melinda and Steve have a second home on Balboa Island, California, where they spent time there at least once a month. Melinda and Steve attended many Arizona State football games during the season and enjoyed visiting Tempe, Arizona. They also loved traveling to Europe, especially Italy and France.Melinda passed away at home on Thursday, September 29, 2022, after a courageous five-month battle with Cancer. Her husband Steve, son Brian, and beloved dog Frankie were by her side. Melinda would always say, "I am not beautiful, but I am cute and a lot of fun!"A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 12 pm at 508 Corral De Tierra Road, in Corral De Tierra.In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Melinda's memory to the American Cancer Society's "Celebration of Life" Fashion Show, 1534 N. Main St., Salinas, CA 93906. Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com.