Melva M. Armstrong

Melva Armstrong, formerly of Ponca, Nebraska, recently left this world to join her Creator. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, husband Lyle; and two daughters Julee and Cheryl.

A graveside service will be 1:00 P.M. Friday, October 24, 2025 at Silver Ridge Cemetery in rural Ponca, Nebraska. A Celebration of Life will begin at 2:30 P.M. at the Ponca Community Center. 

Melva was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, generosity, and an unwavering faith in God.

Melva was born on a farm outside of Martinsburg. She attended school and lived in the same small community for over 9 decades. After graduating from high school, Melva, her mother, her grandmother, and her brothers drove to California to visit an aunt and seek adventure. They were there 2 years before returning to Nebraska. While there, Melva attended business college and was able to enjoy the 1938 Rose Bowl festivities in Pasadena.

Melva had a strong will and was often referred to as “a spitfire”. It was not unusual for Melva to make quick decisions, and they were typically spot-on. She loved shopping and fashion (hair, nails, jewelry, clothes) and was known for her love of green, any shade of green. In her teenage years, Melva was run over by a car and was in a complicated body cast for quite some time. A passenger in the car was Lyle, whom she married a few years later. This union resulted in two daughters.

Melva had solid ties with her family. She spent over 70 years living within a block of her mother and 40 years living withing a block of her grandmother. They were all extremely close. A special fondness existed between her and her brothers. They were always playing practical jokes on each other, and she took extraordinary joy in a “payback” gag. Later in life, she moved to live closer to her eldest daughter and family.

Melva had many career accomplishments, including Owner of Lyle’s Market with her husband, and was the Deputy County Assessor for 10 years. She attended beauty school and founded her own hair salon, Melva’s Hair Fashions, in 1960, which she ran out of her home for more than 40 years. She built long-standing friendships during this time and had a faithful clientele, with many keeping a standing weekly appointment for years. She also held the title of State Cosmetology Beauty Inspector for 3 years.

Melva made a person feel good just being in her presence. With so many friends, they often described her as: strong, caring, sharp, graciously generous, a “fashion plate”, remarkable, classy, spunky, inspiring and the life of the party. She has left a lasting impact on us.

Travel was a love of Melva’s. She had visited every state in the U.S. except for Vermont. She also traveled to Canada, Mexico, and Israel. Melva was Worthy Matron of O.E.S. and a member of Entre Nous. She was active in the Methodist Church and volunteered for hundreds of events in the Ponca Community Club.

While her life was filled with a copious amount of joy, Melva also endured heartbreaking tragedies in her century-plus long life. She never became bitter or held a grudge but instead allowed these experiences to build stronger resilience.

Melva is survived by her son-in-law, Larry; grandson Layne; granddaughter Lynae (Alan); 7 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves many other family members and friends that will sadly miss her.

Although Melva’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing and may we carry forth her legacy of love and generosity in all that we do.

Memorial contributions may be directed to: J. Armstrong Memorial Endowment Fund at P.O. Box 568 Ponca, NE 68770.