Sheridan

Melvina Rose Benesch Sheridan passed away peacefully on May 15, 2025, in La Grange. She was born Dec. 25, 1939 in Gober, Texas to Richard Charles and Mollie Alice Benesch; she was named after her two grandmothers.

Melvina graduated from Greenville High School in 1957. While in high school, she was member of the Flaming Flashes – the drill team that performed along with the band at football games. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Future Teachers of America, Future Homemakers America and the student council, where she served as historian and a student librarian. She was also head student columnist for both the Greenville Hearld and Greenville Banner newspapers. The family were members of Wesley Methodist Church and Melvina was active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship.

Following graduation from high school, Melvina entered East Texas Teachers College in Commerce, Texas majoring in Library Science; she had always been an avid reader. She was a member of the East Texan staff serving as an editorial assistant and the Kalir Social Club. There she would meet Bill Sheridan, a teaching assistant working on his master’s degree in journalism. They were married in her home church on June 7, 1959. They had three children, James Richard, Shelby Dawn and Grant Hunter. The family eventually settled in Portales, N.M.

Following their divorce, Melvina and the two younger children moved to San Antonio. Melvina established her own business as a nanny for newborn infants primarily working in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Austin.

While in San Antonio, Melvina met Jim Dilts in a Sunday School class at Alamo Hights United Methodist Church. They found they shared many of the same interests and enjoyed many of the same things. They especially enjoyed travelling together and especially enjoyed the annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival.

After retiring from her business, Melvina decided to move to La Grange where her sister – Mary Linda – was already established. While residing in La Grange she was a member of the Garden Club, book clubs and she enjoyed playing bridge with various groups. She was also a collector of antiques, and she and her sister always enjoyed the biannual Antique Fair. Her partner, Jim, passed in 2022.

Melvina is survived by her children, James, Shelby and Grant; grandchildren Mollie, Caitlin, and Garrett and eight great grandchildren. Also, sisters Karan Stripling and Linda Blakey and niece Sheri and nephew Scott. She is preceded in death by her partner Jim Dilts, her parents Richard and Mollie Benesch and nephew Stephen Stripling. Melvina had a dynamic personality and a beautiful smile and will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.

The service will be conducted at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home in La Grange, on June 3, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The service will begin at 1 p.m. The service will then continue at the gazebo at La Grange City Cemetary, then conclude at that location.