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Mrs. Kelchner was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church; Osage Chapter Daughter’s of the American Revolution for over 35 years and served as Regent and Historian. Sara was a past member of the Cosmopolitan Junior Women’s Club. She served as president in 1985 and 1986 and was honored as the Outstanding Woman of the year for the state of Missouri in 1985. She was an organizing member of the Friends of the Covered Bridge.Sara attended Quisenberry School and graduated from Smith Cotton High School in 1961. She received an Associate of Applied Science from State Fair Community College, Bachelor of Science Degree from Park College and a Master of Science Degree from Central Missouri State University.She had just retired after 44 years of service as a Federal Civilian Employee at Whiteman Air Force Base. She was the Chief Real Estate Flight, 509 CES/CERR. She started her career in 1962 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Real Estate Division. Sara transferred to the Warsaw office when the construction of Truman Lake and Dam started. In 1970, she transitioned into the United States Air Force, working at Whiteman AFB, then to Malmstrom AFB, Montana, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota and Vandenberg AFB, California. In 1983 she came back to Whiteman AFB, in Real Estate, and in 1989 she became the Realty Officer. The announcement of the placement of the next generation B-Stealth Bomber at Whiteman AFB in 1987 resulted in Mrs. Kelchner being involved on a multi-functional team responsible for a nearly one-billion-dollar program.Survivors include a son Shaun K. Melvin of Winston Salem, North Carolina; and her mother, Frances Oswald, of Sedalia. She was predeceased by her father, Byron F. Oswald.Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Heckart Funeral Home with Father Linus Evers officiating.Pallbearers will be Matt Templeton, Todd Garst, Bill Goodwin, Lyndon Goodwin, Mark Goodwin and Mike Goodwin.Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Heckart Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the DAR Nursing Scholarship at State Fair Community College in care of the funeral home.She was born on December 21, 1943, in Sedalia, a daughter of Byron F. and Frances Goodwin Oswald.
