Melita Leona England

Melita Leona England was born on the 2nd of September 1936, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Leo O. and Edna Mary V. (Diggs) Jobe. Her first memories included riding with her father on his route as a traveling repairman. She was a Daddy's girl, now reunited once again after passing away on the 2nd of December 2025, in Marshall, Arkansas.

During much of her childhood, the family traveled back and forth between Oklahoma and California, picking fruit and working in canneries as the seasons dictated. This was the likely origin of her love of road trips and spontaneous relocations around the country. Few people enjoyed house hunting more.

While at Santa Rosa High School (CA) in 1954, Melita began dating Mel A. Solie. Starting a job with Pacific Telephone and Telegraph at the same time, she was a dedicated employee and proud union member. She married Mel in 1958, and they had two daughters. There are fond memories of walks to the creek to catch pollywogs and summer days at Village Pool. Melita liked to swim, but only doing the side stroke, keeping her hair above water and dry. The kids had zinc oxide spread on their noses and Charleston Chews spread on their hands, but mom stayed pretty neat while unwrapping her Almond Joy next to the pool.

In 1984, Melita married a second time to Bill England in Kenwood, California, following a blind date set up by Bill's daughter-in-law, a co-worker of Melita's. They were actually quite well-matched. One a little 'Okie', the other an 'Arky', living in a city and missing the country.

Upon retiring from AT&T, she and Bill moved 'to the mountain', in Witts Springs, Arkansas. They would up sticks many times after that year, though. Never ones to rent a moving truck, or bulldozer, when they could buy a used one, they were always on the move. There were many funny and sometimes dangerous moments together. Some of us will never forget the harrowing drive through Wyoming with a load well over the weight limits. Or pulling a travel trailer through a snowstorm in New Mexico and the jack knife incident. Those were the days.

We'll also poignantly remember how much our mother loved trail rides along the Buffalo River, country views, morning coffee on the porch and reading, especially books by Pearl Buck and John Steinbeck. After all, she had lived The Grapes of Wrath.

Melita is survived by her daughters; MeLani (Bob), Tawnya (Cliff), grandson, Benjamin, stepchildren; JC England, Junior England, Cassie England, Stephanie Stainbrook, her close friend and cousin, Phyllis Rae Davis, brother, Glenn Jobe, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William England, in June of this year, her grandson, Max, stepchildren; Edward England, Benny England, and her sisters; Barbara Christian, and Sheila Kennedy.

Clinton Funeral Service is honored to have been entrusted with the arrangements for the England Family. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories of Melita on our Memory Wall.