Melinda, daughter of James and Margaret Fancher, was the youngest of 5 children and always enjoyed her place as the “baby” of the family. She could roll and cross her large and soulful brown eyes while at the dinner, causing her siblings to laugh and disrupt dinner, and then turn those same brown eyes up to her parents and claim, “It wasn’t me. I don’t know what they’re laughing at.”

Being born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Melinda always carried that Texas attitude wherever she went. She believed Tex-mex and BBQ were supreme menus ordained by God, margaritas provided communion for the soul, and a her strong opinions about life and politics were to be shared. Never expect less from a Texan.

Being a proud graduate of Baylor University and the University of Texas, Melinda moved her life to her second home base of Northern Virginia She worked in several capacities at different employers including Booz Allen and the General Services Administration. Melinda also committed herself to whatever community she found herself in such as her local HOA and the Smithsonian Institute. She collected many friendships along the way.

Melinda’s favorite friend though may have been her dachshund, Molly, aka Molly Tamale. She loved Molly and Molly loved her. And you rarely saw one without the other. After Molly passed away, Melinda couldn’t imagine life with any other dog. Molly was just that good and their bond just that strong.

As she faced the end of her time here, Melinda expressed that the themes she wanted others to take forward were laughter and Hope. So please, in Melinda’s honor, wear the color pink, don your favorite hat, share a joke or laughter producing memory, and consider your Hope.

Melinda is preceded in death by her parents, her oldest brother, Steve Fancher, and her nephew, Michael Fancher (son of JP and Ruth Fancher). She is survived by her niece and nephew Stephanie and Joshua (children of Steve Fancher), brother and sister-in-law JP and Ruth Fancher of San Marcos, Tx; brother and sister-in-law Rick and Cilla Fancher of Corpus Christi, Tx, and their children Jeff (Corpus Christi, Tx) and Ashley and Brian Weiss (San Antonio, Tx); sister and her “favorite brother-in-law” (easily said when you’re the only brother-in-law) Suzanne and Darrell Willner of Johnson City, Tx, and their children Liz and John Hjort (New Braunfels, Tx), Andrew and Michael Willner (Carrollton, Tx) and Mason Willner (Dallas, Tx) along with 10 great nieces and nephews. 

A special thank you to the friends and family who cared for Melinda as her days on this earth twindled - Kathi Chirichiello, Rob Metzler, Cilla Fancher and Suzanne Willner.