Melody Wilhoit (1947-2014)

See also: Hybridizer Melody Wilhoit

Awarded Distinguished Service Award 2003

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From the Fall 2014 AIS Bulletin, Remembering Friends by Jim Morris:

Melody Ruth Wilhoit (1947 - 2014)

Melody Wilhoit, 66, of Kansas, Illinois passed away June 21, 2014 in Urbana, Illinois.

Melody was born July 14, 1947 in Paris, Illinois. She married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Wilhoit, on September 30, 1967 in Kansas.

Melody was a long-time member of AIS Region 9, serving as an AIS director on the board for two terms, 1993-1998. She was also the AIS Awards chairman from 1994 -1998. In 2003 Melody was awarded the AIS Distinguished Service Medal (photo above with Terry Aitken by Jean Morris). She and Jerry owned and operated Red Bud Lane Iris Garden in Kansas.

She was very active in both the Louisiana Iris Society of America and the Society for Louisiana Irises and participated in the merger of the two groups.

Melody is survived by her husband, Jerry; two sons, Justin and Jason (Sheley Howlett); a brother, Bruce Foltz; a sister, Dora (BJ) Roberts; two granddaughters and a step grandson. The AIS president attended her wake along with what seemed half the population of Kansas. Six Region 9 members attended her funeral.

Fall 2014 AIS Bulletin, Remembering Friends by Jim Morris

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-- BobPries - 2012-05-18