MELVIN WILSON obituary

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Melvin E. Wilson, 85, of Tallahassee, Fla., and formerly of Havre, died of a heart attack at his home Sept. 3, 2006.

No services are planned and cremation took place. Melvin was born Jan. 27, 1921, Eyremore, Alberta, to Ernest E. and Mary Elizabeth Wilson. The family later moved north of Havre and his father worked for Jim Kirk. From there, they moved to their grandfather's farm south of Lohman. Several years later they moved to Lohman and eventually to Chinook, where Mel's father worked for the Blaine County Road Department. In the fall of 1937, the family moved to Havre, where his father worked for the Hill County Road Department. Melvin and his sisters completed their education in Havre. Melvin joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Marines and served in World War II. Later, he did a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard. Melvin began his electrical career in the service and worked for Ole Olson as an electrical apprentice in Havre. Mel worked in many states as a licensed electrician, worked in Hollywood for the oldtime movie stars and later came back to Havre to help wire the diesel shops. He moved to Edmonds, Wash., to work as an electrician and also to repair vending machines. Mel met and married Dorothy Fournier. They had two children, and later divorced. Mel moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1961 and bought a music company he renamed Wilson Music Co. He also worked at Eielson Air Force Base as an electrician. He later became a dispatcher. He retired in 1983. Mel married Pearl Philpott and they moved to Eugene, Ore., then to their new home in Tallahassee. Mel was a good jokester and a master at telling hilarious stories. Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Ernie and Mary Elizabeth Wilson; and brothers, Lloyd and Cecil. Survivors include his wife, Pearl of Tallahassee; children, Danny and Deborah “Debbie” of Spokane, Wash.; sisters, Mary Boettger of Havre, Greta Adams of Spokane, and two others, addresses unknown; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Condolences can be sent to Mel's widow, Pearl Wilson, 2345 Eddie Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or his sister Mary Boettger, 1016 First St., Havre.