Augusta, GA - Dr. Elfriede M. Mellinger, 96, entered her eternal rest on July 5, 2018 at University Hospital in Augusta, GA.
Born in Heidelberg, Germany on June 19, 1922, she had an adventuresome life living in three continents. Dr. Mellinger and husband Theo were educated at the Medical School of the University of Heidelberg, but after WWII in 1951, traveling 3 weeks by freighter and paddlewheel river boat, immigrated to Columbia, South America. There Elfriede helped set up a primitive medical practice in which there was no electricity, running water or indoor plumbing.
In 1958 they moved to Miami, FL and 2 years later moved to Milledgeville, GA where Elfriede raised her family and began her career as a psychiatrist at Central State Hospital. In 1963 her five-member family all became naturalized US citizens. The next move for the Mellinger’s was to Augusta where she and her husband both took on jobs helping veterans at the Psychiatric Division of the Veterans Administration Hospital.
After retiring from the VA in 1976, they moved to their beloved Tessentee Valley farm in Otto, NC where Elfriede’s life was enriched by her favorite pastime, hiking the beautiful mountain trails. She loved tending her farm house garden, weaving on the loom, exercising at the gym, using her musical talents, and worshipping at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin, NC. She was an avid curious reader and even wrote poems into her nineties.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Theodore J. Mellinger and a son, Matias D. Mellinger. Survivors include a son, Nickolas Mellinger of North Augusta, SC and a daughter Monica Matheson (Tom) of Athens, GA; four grandchildren: Jennifer M. Toreno (T.J.) of Roswell, GA, Cliff Matheson of Athens, GA, Sandy Sturgis (Kyle) of Watkinsville, GA, and Angela Harcourt (Russ) of Athens, GA; five great-grandchildren: Sable Sturgis and Brock Sturgis of Watkinsville, GA, Grant Harcourt of Athens, GA, Lena Toreno and Mia Toreno of Roswell, GA; two nieces in Germany: Claudia Gerstner-Link and Annette Gerstner.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave. Augusta, GA 30904.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Westover Memorial Park, 2601 Wheeler Rd. Augusta, GA 30904. Family and friends are invited to gather after the ceremony at The Clubhouse at Brandon Wilde, 4275 Owens Rd. Evans, GA 30809.