Melvena M. Lewis, 98, of Bluffton passed away in her sleep at 12:40 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton.  She was born March 4, 1919, in Bluffton to the late Ameiel and Sylvia (Moser) Amstutz. 

Melvena married her high school sweetheart Richard “Dutch” Lewis after his enlistment in World War II and at the war’s end they had one daughter, Joan R. Lewis. 

Melvena worked for many years at the Bluffton High School as the high school secretary.  She was a member of the Rawson Chapter #550 of the Order of the Eastern Stars, Mt. Cory where she was a past Worthy Matron and held various points, her favorite being Esther.  Melvena was a volunteer for the Bluffton Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary. 

In her life, she enjoyed tending to her flowers, antiquing with her husband, travelling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with family and creating beautiful works of hand-painted china. 

She was also an avid knitter, as she committed much of her time in her later years knitting prayer shawls for charity and baby hats, which graced the heads of many babies born at Bluffton Hospital.  Melvena had a loving, charitable heart and enjoyed being around those she loved. 

Melvena is survived by her younger sister, Dorothy Hursey of Bluffton; two nephews, James (Lynn) Hursey, Tom (Rebecca) Hursey; two great nieces and two great-great nephews.

Melvena was preceded by her husband and her daughter.

Per Melvena’s wishes, there will be no services or visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Joan R. Lewis Scholarship at the University of Findlay.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.