Harold Edward Melvin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 95.
Harold was born at his home in Oklahoma City on October 29, 1926 to father John Melvin and mother Ina Tharp Melvin. The second oldest of five children, Harold grew up in a poor family, so he learned quickly to value spending time with his family. Harold enjoyed attending school and there wasn't a sport he didn't like, but baseball was his favorite by far. He and his brothers would play ball together as children with rocks for a ball, sticks for a bat and vegetable cans for gloves. After the war, the Melvin boys and their cousins formed a team and played against the Oklahoma City Indians for a promotional game - needless to say they lost, but they enjoyed playing the game together. Harold was very close with his brothers and his sister. To get a full picture of the man that he was, it's only fair to remember how Harold and his older brother "JE" would stand on the street corner in grade school and ask people to fight. But also to remember when his younger sister, Marie, was in high school and had a job that let out after dark, Harold was there every day to walk her home.
During his senior year at Britton High School, Harold was Senior Class President, Homecoming King, and he won first place in a poster contest at the school. He graduated in 1943. Harold completed one semester at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he played for the basketball team. Shortly before his 18th birthday, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was called to active duty in November of 1943, where he was stationed on the U.S Dorsey Destroyer Minesweeper #1 for approximately 2.5 years. During his service, he spent time in Hawaii, the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan clearing mines around the island and at harbor entrances. Harold returned to Oklahoma in June of 1946 and began classes at Draughon's Business College, graduating in 1947. While attending Draughon's, he met his future wife Cary Lou and the two married on November 28, 1947. During their time together, they had two daughters, Lisa Brown and Lori (Douglas) Thereon, and they served together in their home church. Harold and Cary Lou were married for almost 40 years before her passing in October of 1987. On June 24, 1989, Harold married Phyllis Joan Petty, and they shared 33 years together before his passing. During their time together, Harold and Phyllis did some traveling and continued to serve together in their church.
Harold was a faithful husband, devoted father and a beloved grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family, devoting 38 years to Champlin Petroleum. He enjoyed working with wood and his family would always say that if Harold built it, a tornado could come through and everything else would be gone but that. He loved to spend time with his family, friends and neighbors and also enjoyed golfing, water skiing and camping. He loved music and spent several years singing in Barbershop Quartets. Harold always made sure to remind everyone that his favorite fruit was pie. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and spent 50 years serving in different capacities at Britton Baptist, Classen Blvd Baptist Church and First Baptist Edmond. Harold learned that it was easier and much more comforting to know people as friends than opponents, to help when you can, and it was far better to serve than to be served. He looked back on his life as a success and felt that he had no greater accomplishment than doing his job the best he could, serving when needed, helping others and serving his God, his family and his country.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, John E. Melvin, Marie Venable, Ralph Melvin and Billie Melvin, his wife Cary Lou, and his grandson Dayton E. Meiner.
Harold was born at his home in Oklahoma City on October 29, 1926 to father John Melvin and mother Ina Tharp Melvin. The second oldest of five children, Harold grew up in a poor family, so he learned quickly to value spending time with his family. Harold enjoyed attending school and there wasn't a sport he didn't like, but baseball was his favorite by far. He and his brothers would play ball together as children with rocks for a ball, sticks for a bat and vegetable cans for gloves. After the war, the Melvin boys and their cousins formed a team and played against the Oklahoma City Indians for a promotional game - needless to say they lost, but they enjoyed playing the game together. Harold was very close with his brothers and his sister. To get a full picture of the man that he was, it's only fair to remember how Harold and his older brother "JE" would stand on the street corner in grade school and ask people to fight. But also to remember when his younger sister, Marie, was in high school and had a job that let out after dark, Harold was there every day to walk her home.
During his senior year at Britton High School, Harold was Senior Class President, Homecoming King, and he won first place in a poster contest at the school. He graduated in 1943. Harold completed one semester at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he played for the basketball team. Shortly before his 18th birthday, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was called to active duty in November of 1943, where he was stationed on the U.S Dorsey Destroyer Minesweeper #1 for approximately 2.5 years. During his service, he spent time in Hawaii, the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan clearing mines around the island and at harbor entrances. Harold returned to Oklahoma in June of 1946 and began classes at Draughon's Business College, graduating in 1947. While attending Draughon's, he met his future wife Cary Lou and the two married on November 28, 1947. During their time together, they had two daughters, Lisa Brown and Lori (Douglas) Thereon, and they served together in their home church. Harold and Cary Lou were married for almost 40 years before her passing in October of 1987. On June 24, 1989, Harold married Phyllis Joan Petty, and they shared 33 years together before his passing. During their time together, Harold and Phyllis did some traveling and continued to serve together in their church.
Harold was a faithful husband, devoted father and a beloved grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family, devoting 38 years to Champlin Petroleum. He enjoyed working with wood and his family would always say that if Harold built it, a tornado could come through and everything else would be gone but that. He loved to spend time with his family, friends and neighbors and also enjoyed golfing, water skiing and camping. He loved music and spent several years singing in Barbershop Quartets. Harold always made sure to remind everyone that his favorite fruit was pie. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and spent 50 years serving in different capacities at Britton Baptist, Classen Blvd Baptist Church and First Baptist Edmond. Harold learned that it was easier and much more comforting to know people as friends than opponents, to help when you can, and it was far better to serve than to be served. He looked back on his life as a success and felt that he had no greater accomplishment than doing his job the best he could, serving when needed, helping others and serving his God, his family and his country.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, John E. Melvin, Marie Venable, Ralph Melvin and Billie Melvin, his wife Cary Lou, and his grandson Dayton E. Meiner.
Harold Edward Melvin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away on October 4, 2022, at the age of 95.
Harold was born at his home in Oklahoma City on October 29, 1926 to father John Melvin and mother Ina Tharp Melvin. The second oldest of five children, Harold grew up in a poor family, so he learned quickly to value spending time with his family. Harold enjoyed attending school and there wasn't a sport he didn't like, but baseball was his favorite by far. He and his brothers would play ball together as children with rocks for a ball, sticks for a bat and vegetable cans for gloves. After the war, the Melvin boys and their cousins formed a team and played against the Oklahoma City Indians for a promotional game - needless to say they lost, but they enjoyed playing the game together. Harold was very close with his brothers and his sister. To get a full picture of the man that he was, it's only fair to remember how Harold and his older brother "JE" would stand on the street corner in grade school and ask people to fight. But also to remember when his younger sister, Marie, was in high school and had a job that let out after dark, Harold was there every day to walk her home.
During his senior year at Britton High School, Harold was Senior Class President, Homecoming King, and he won first place in a poster contest at the school. He graduated in 1943. Harold completed one semester at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he played for the basketball team. Shortly before his 18th birthday, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was called to active duty in November of 1943, where he was stationed on the U.S Dorsey Destroyer Minesweeper #1 for approximately 2.5 years. During his service, he spent time in Hawaii, the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan clearing mines around the island and at harbor entrances. Harold returned to Oklahoma in June of 1946 and began classes at Draughon's Business College, graduating in 1947. While attending Draughon's, he met his future wife Cary Lou and the two married on November 28, 1947. During their time together, they had two daughters, Lisa Brown and Lori (Douglas) Thereon, and they served together in their home church. Harold and Cary Lou were married for almost 40 years before her passing in October of 1987. On June 24, 1989, Harold married Phyllis Joan Petty, and they shared 33 years together before his passing. During their time together, Harold and Phyllis did some traveling and continued to serve together in their church.
Harold was a faithful husband, devoted father and a beloved grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family, devoting 38 years to Champlin Petroleum. He enjoyed working with wood and his family would always say that if Harold built it, a tornado could come through and everything else would be gone but that. He loved to spend time with his family, friends and neighbors and also enjoyed golfing, water skiing and camping. He loved music and spent several years singing in Barbershop Quartets. Harold always made sure to remind everyone that his favorite fruit was pie. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and spent 50 years serving in different capacities at Britton Baptist, Classen Blvd Baptist Church and First Baptist Edmond. Harold learned that it was easier and much more comforting to know people as friends than opponents, to help when you can, and it was far better to serve than to be served. He looked back on his life as a success and felt that he had no greater accomplishment than doing his job the best he could, serving when needed, helping others and serving his God, his family and his country.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, John E. Melvin, Marie Venable, Ralph Melvin and Billie Melvin, his wife Cary Lou, and his grandson Dayton E. Meiner.
Harold was born at his home in Oklahoma City on October 29, 1926 to father John Melvin and mother Ina Tharp Melvin. The second oldest of five children, Harold grew up in a poor family, so he learned quickly to value spending time with his family. Harold enjoyed attending school and there wasn't a sport he didn't like, but baseball was his favorite by far. He and his brothers would play ball together as children with rocks for a ball, sticks for a bat and vegetable cans for gloves. After the war, the Melvin boys and their cousins formed a team and played against the Oklahoma City Indians for a promotional game - needless to say they lost, but they enjoyed playing the game together. Harold was very close with his brothers and his sister. To get a full picture of the man that he was, it's only fair to remember how Harold and his older brother "JE" would stand on the street corner in grade school and ask people to fight. But also to remember when his younger sister, Marie, was in high school and had a job that let out after dark, Harold was there every day to walk her home.
During his senior year at Britton High School, Harold was Senior Class President, Homecoming King, and he won first place in a poster contest at the school. He graduated in 1943. Harold completed one semester at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he played for the basketball team. Shortly before his 18th birthday, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was called to active duty in November of 1943, where he was stationed on the U.S Dorsey Destroyer Minesweeper #1 for approximately 2.5 years. During his service, he spent time in Hawaii, the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan clearing mines around the island and at harbor entrances. Harold returned to Oklahoma in June of 1946 and began classes at Draughon's Business College, graduating in 1947. While attending Draughon's, he met his future wife Cary Lou and the two married on November 28, 1947. During their time together, they had two daughters, Lisa Brown and Lori (Douglas) Thereon, and they served together in their home church. Harold and Cary Lou were married for almost 40 years before her passing in October of 1987. On June 24, 1989, Harold married Phyllis Joan Petty, and they shared 33 years together before his passing. During their time together, Harold and Phyllis did some traveling and continued to serve together in their church.
Harold was a faithful husband, devoted father and a beloved grandfather who worked hard to provide for his family, devoting 38 years to Champlin Petroleum. He enjoyed working with wood and his family would always say that if Harold built it, a tornado could come through and everything else would be gone but that. He loved to spend time with his family, friends and neighbors and also enjoyed golfing, water skiing and camping. He loved music and spent several years singing in Barbershop Quartets. Harold always made sure to remind everyone that his favorite fruit was pie. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and spent 50 years serving in different capacities at Britton Baptist, Classen Blvd Baptist Church and First Baptist Edmond. Harold learned that it was easier and much more comforting to know people as friends than opponents, to help when you can, and it was far better to serve than to be served. He looked back on his life as a success and felt that he had no greater accomplishment than doing his job the best he could, serving when needed, helping others and serving his God, his family and his country.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, John E. Melvin, Marie Venable, Ralph Melvin and Billie Melvin, his wife Cary Lou, and his grandson Dayton E. Meiner.
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