Melvin was born in Eugene, Oregon, to Earl and Nellie Gowing and grew up in Lorane, Oregon. He joined the US Army after high school and served in the Korean War, as well as later in the National Guard.
He spent his working career in the Railroad Industry, retiring in 1992. He married Phyllis Ann Perkins on July 29, 1954. They remained married until his passing. He was a member of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Lodge, the VFW, and the American Legion.
However, his life passion was golfing. When he first retired, he would golf 5 or 6 days a week, either in leagues or just for pleasure. He slowed down in later years and finally stopped in 2022 for health reasons. He achieved two holes-in-one throughout his golfing career. He was preceded in death by his parents and 9 of his siblings. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of 71 years, his sister, Maxine Reed of San Diego, and multiple generations of nieces and nephews. A Potluck Celebration of Life will be held at Middlefield Golf Course on August 9th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Donations can be made to Veterans Legacy, Camp Alma veteranslegacyoregon.org.
