Barbara Mae Maxson Mellace, 85, passed away peacefully at CAMC Memorial Hospital Saturday, May 23, 2009.

She was born November 6, 1923 in Bolivar, New York to Leslie and Beulah Blinn Maxson.

Barbara graduated from Bolivar High School in 1941, she received her Associates degree from Columbia Business School in New York City. She moved to Charleston, W. Va. in 1948.
She was very active in her children's lives and organizations, PTA, Girl scouts, Children's Theater, Y-teens, Kanawha Players, Light Opera Guild and Kanawha City Lioness Club. She worked for the W. Va. State Bar Association, House of Delegates and was retired from the W. Va. Supreme Court of Appeals.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and her husband, Robert P. Mellace.

She is survived by her daughters Dianne Fowler and her husband Steve of Charleston, Nancy Oyen and her husband Arild of Maiden, North Carolina, step-son Michael Mellace and his wife Stephanie of Charleston, 9 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Mellace will be remembered and loved by all that knew her.

Her body has been donated to the Human Gift Registry of West Virginia University. A private memorial will be held at a later date for Mr. & Mrs. Mellace.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice in the name of Barbara Mellace.

Information provided by Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.