Melba Woods;75;of Belle Vernon;died suddenly;Friday;Nov.29;1996;in Washington;D.C. She was born in Monessen on March 8;1921;a daughter of the late George and Katie Chester Jester. Mrs.Woods lived in Belle Vernon for more than 40 years and was a member of First Christian Church of Monessen. She was a former switchboard operator at the former Charleroi-Monessen Hospital and also with the Belle Telephone Co. In addition to her parents;she was preceded in death by her husband;William V.Woods Sr.;on Dec.20;1986;and a brother;Clifford Jester. Survivors include one son;William V.Woods Jr.;of Oneonta;N.Y.;one daughter;Maureen Graff of Fredericksburg;Va.;one brother;Irvin Jester of Erie;one sister;Sadie Isaho of Belle Vernon;and two grandchildren;David Woods and Katie Graff. Friends will be received Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.in the Ferguson Funeral Home Inc.;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. Services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m.in the funeral home with Pastor Conrad G.Auel of the First Christian Church of Monessen officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Ferguson Funeral Home Inc.is in charge of arrangements.