Melvin (Mel) Eugene George, 83, of Lockridge, IA formerly of Hamilton, Illinois, received his Crown of Life Friday, May 5, 2023 at Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield, Iowa surrounded by his family. Melvin was born at home in Belknap, Iowa on February 7, 1940 to John (Tiny) and Edith Mae Johnson George. Melvin was later raised on a farm in Lockridge, Iowa. He went to school in Lockridge and graduated in 1959 from Fairfield High School in Fairfield, Iowa. Melvin then graduated from DeVry Institute in Chicago with a degree in electronics. On August 18, 1962, he married Judy Maxine Prickett at First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. They later moved to Hamilton, Illinois. Melvin started working for Deb Daugherty for seven years, then in 1969 he bought Daugherty’s TV from Deb. He later built his home in rural Hamilton where he and his lovely wife raised their three kids.
Melvin was a member of First Lutheran Church in Keokuk, Iowa where he served as elder, church council president and a trustee. He also enjoyed singing in the church choir. Being an expert in electronic, Melvin also served his congregation by keeping the sound system up to date. Later in life they moved to Lockridge, Iowa and became members of Word of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfield. He was a lifetime member of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International and the NRA. In 1977 he and Pastor Harold Meyers started Christ Vision, a low power Christian television station in Keokuk where he served as an electronic engineer. Melvin was a member of the Hamilton Jaycees and became a member of the Deer Run Golf Course in Hamilton in 1972. In 1994 Melvin and Judy took a short-term mission trip to Jamaica. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, gardening (canning), bird watching, country line dancing with his wife, and tinkering with things. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his sons; Mark (Armilda) of Hamilton and Marty (Sue) of Fremont, Iowa; daughter Joni (Mike) Wikman of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; and an adopted daughter Cathy Giberson of Fairfield, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Josiah, Geoffery, Noah, Hannah, Caleb, Lauren, Joshua and Paige; sister-in-law Karen George Herzog of Northfield, MN; sisters-in-law Shirley Giberson of Hillsboro and Barb Prickett of Salem; brothers-in-law Gary Prickett of Burlington and Randy Prickett of Salem; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Judy; his parents; brother John; brothers-in-law James Prickett, Ronald Prickett, and Dewight Giberson; and sisters-in-law Rose Prickett, Deborah Prickett, and Brenda Prickett.
A Celebration of Life for Mr. George will be held at 10:30 am, July 15, 2023 at Word of Life Church, Fairfield, with Pastor Jason Christensen officiating.
Memorials to assist with funeral expenses may be directed to: Martin George, 260 S. Miles, Fremont, Iowa 52561. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.