Joetta Wilson Melton, 83, formerly of Grove, died Thursday morning December 10, 2009 in Tulsa Oklahoma. She was born January 13, 1926 in Grove, to Bernice Mode and Gordon Homer Wilson and spent the early years of her life in various locations from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas to cities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado; returning to Grove in 1943. She graduated from Grove High School in 1944. Joetta married Thomas Jefferson "T J" Melton October 19, 1944 in Miami, Oklahoma and to this union two sons were born, Thomas Jeffrey "Jeff" Melton and Rex Mode Melton.

She went on to receive a Bachelor of Education degree from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia Kansas and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She taught in the Wichita Public School system and Northeast Oklahoma A &M College for a number of years. Joetta and T J returned to Grove to teach in the Grove Public Schools; where T J was named Principal of the Grove Elementary School, which now bears his name.

Joetta had a variety of interest throughout her life including teaching, hobbies, homemaking, and social work, all of which kept her active. Her primary interest, however, was her family to which she devoted all her love and attention. (Grand Lakes News, December 15, 2009: http://www.grandlakenews.com/obituaries/article_eb0e7742-f07d-57f7-ba88-485129cd8bf6.html)