Melba Heintz

Melba Heintz, long time resident of Ponca City and lifelong resident of Kay county died Thursday morning 2 January 2020 after a lengthy illness. She lived 90 years 11 months and 2 days.

Melba Ruth Reinking was born to Edward Carl Reinking and Ella Marie (Brockmann) Reinking in Nardin, Oklahoma on 31 January 1929. She was the fourth of seven children. Her family later moved to Ponca City. Melba graduated from Ponca City High School. She met Wilbur Louis Heintz and they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church Blackwell, Oklahoma on 10 August 1947. The marriage gave them three sons, Gary, Rex, and Paul. The family lived on a small farm between Blackwell and Ponca City.

After the sons were out of grade school, Melba studied for a short period at Tonkawa Junior College. After college she began working for Conoco in Ponca City, (as had her husband since early in marriage) and continued there until her retirement at age 65.

The family moved off the farm and into Ponca City in 1970. They transferred their membership from rural St John’s Lutheran Church, East of Blackwell and became members of 1st Lutheran Church, Ponca City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three older sisters, a younger brother, and her husband of 59 years.

Melba is survived by two younger sisters, one of Ponca City and one of Sioux Falls, SD, a sister-in-law of Blackwell, her three sons all of Ponca City, three grandchildren all of Ponca City. Also surviving are many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews across the state and nation.

Memorial Services, to be directed by Grace Memorial Chapel, 2:30 pm Monday 6 January 2020 at 1st Lutheran Church. She will be buried next to her husband, Wilbur, at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery, Ponca City after the service.  There will be a time of Visitation at Grace Memorial Chapel for Saturday and Sunday, January 4th & 5th, from Noon until 8pm both days.

Words of encouragement and messages of condolence may be left online at www.gracememorialchapel.net.