Obituary: JUNIOUS DAVID MELVIN III
Junious David Melvin III, 76, of St. Simons Island died Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Hospice of the Golden Isles.
Mr. Melvin was born in Lumberton, NC, on Oct. 26, 1935, the son of J.D. Melvin Jr. of Lumberton and Clara Billups Melvin, formerly of Summerton, SC. At the outset of World War II, the family moved to Wilmington, NC, where David’s father worked in the shipyard and his mother was employed as a nurse.
Following graduation from New Hanover High School in 1954, Mr. Melvin served in the Navy aboard a submarine rescue vessel and was honorably discharged as an Engineman Second Class Petty Officer. He worked briefly with the U. S. Corp of Engineers and then took a job as machinist at Babcock & Wilcox in Wilmington.
In 1958 Mr. Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving aboard the cutter Chilula, and the Frying Pan Shoals Lightship, where he rode out hurricane Donna. He was honorably discharged at Carolina Beach Loran Station as an Engineman First Class Petty Officer and the station’s Master at Arms.
He accepted an engineering technician position with General Electric Company at Wrightsville Beach Saline Water Conservation Program. This career was to last until retirement in 1995. His GE career entailed the installation and service of marine evaporators and turbines worldwide. Later he managed the construction of utility turbines and turnkey power plants nationally and internationally. Mr. Melvin’s last assignment was as vice president of construction at GE Capital in Stamford, CT. He had lived in five overseas locations and 10 states with his family, and traveled in 65 countries.
Mr. Melvin’s formal education was limited to off-campus and night schools including the U.S. Armed Forces Institute in Madison, WI; Appalachian State; Wilmington College; and Greenville Technical College.
He was accepted into the GE Management Training Program in Greenville, SC. Mr. Melvin attained a Merchant Marine engineering officer’s license in 1961 and was permitted to sit for the professional engineer exam in Raleigh, NC, in 1975.
Some of his organization affiliations include the Republican Party Precinct Chairman; Masonic Lodge Orient No. 395; Scottish Rite Bodies; American Legion; Coastal Georgia Historical Society; Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he served for many years as a member of the “Crew at the Top”, maintaining the St. Simon’s Lighthouse; Lightship Sailors Assoc.; and senior member of Elfun, a fraternal society of mid- and upper-GE management. After retiring to the Golden Isles, Mr. Melvin sat for and attained a second Merchant Marine license, that of a Charter Boat Captain.
Mr. Melvin is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Carla Kagy Melvin, formerly of Warren, Ohio and New Britain, CT.; his children with the late Rebecca Melvin Kopecky; Sherri Elizabeth Woodcock (Art) , Patricia June Maasarani, David Samuel Melvin and Jaymi Rebecca McCreight (Paul); sister, June Melvin Wilkins (Joe); six grandchildren, John David Woodcock, Rebecca Woodcock, Bryan Maasarani, Alex Costen, Brittany McCreight Adams and Anthony McCreight; and other family members, Patsy Smith and Herbert Matthews; and a large circle of loving and supportive friends.
Mr. Melvin’s memorialization will be by cremation. Two memorial services will be held, one on St. Simons Island, for friends and family, and one at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9 at Winter park Presbyterian Church, 4501 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington, NC 28403. Both services will be officiated by Mr. Melvin’s cousin, Jack Gibson.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Mr. Melvin’s memory may be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.