Mrs. Melba Marie Garrow, 79, Oxnard, California, passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2009, at Country Villa Oxnard Manor in Oxnard after a lengthy illness.

She was born in South Bend, Indiana, May 13, 1929, and was the daughter of Roy and Nellie Welsh. She attended Riley High School, graduating in 1947. In 1948, she married Robert R. Lawson. Their son, Terry Lawson died in infancy in 1949. In July of 1951, Robert Lawson was killed in action in Korea.

In 1954 she married Stanley H. Garrow from Springfield, Vermont. Their first daughter, Suzanne Marie Garrow died shortly after birth in 1955. In 1968 Stanley and Melba moved to Oxnard, California, where she continued to raise her family and enjoy her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Melba loved her family, music, playing Bridge and Euchre and made many dear friends in California, but always enjoyed trips back to her beloved Indiana.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley; daughters, Barbara Arnold of Simi Valley, Calif., and Valerie Garrow of Ojai, Calif.; sons, Stan Garrow, Jr. of Lompoc, Calif., James Garrow of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Timothy Garrow of Mahomet, Illinois; her sister, Virginia Wells; and brother, David Welsh both of South Bend, Indiana. She and Stanley have 11 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by two of her brothers, Jack Welsh of South Bend, Indiana, and Robert Welsh of Simi Valley, California.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary on Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Funeraria Del Angel Conrad-Carroll Mortuary in Oxnard, California. A Funeral Mass will be held at 12 noon on Friday, April 3, 2009, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Oxnard. A graveside service will be held in South Bend, Indiana at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park at 12 noon on Friday, April 10, 2009. Mrs. Garrow's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Funeraria Del Angel Conrad-Carroll, 401 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard, Calif.; (805) 487-4911.