Melvyn C. Arthur, 88, died June 12, 2014, at 3:30 a.m. at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. Melvyn was born August 30, 1925 in West Elkton, Ohio, to Walter and Frieda (Burckhardt) Arthur who preceded him in death. On December 21, 1947 he married Mary Margaret Zimmerman Arthur and she survives.
Melvyn graduated from Alger High School. He served in the US Army 86th Blackhawk Infantry Division, where he attained the rank of Sgt/Maj. serving in both theatres of World War II. He later received his bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University, Ada.
While at ONU, Melvyn owned the Cub Restaurant in Ada and then received his master's degree from Bowling Green State University. Melvyn had been superintendent of Pandora-Gilboa Schools. He also served as principal at Pandora-Gilboa. Prior to that, he taught at Beaverdam and Moulton schools. He retired from the Allen County Educational Service Center where he served as a curriculum coordinator and later started the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Service Cooperative.
He was a member of Gilboa United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and lay leader He was a past director of the Putnam County Council on Aging, a mayor and councilman of Gilboa for over 30 years, member of the Ohio By-Way Committee, the Putnam County Library Board and the Harter-Williams American Legion Post, Gilboa, where he served as adjutant.
Survivors include three sons: Carey (Patsy) Arthur of Pandora, Mark (Joyce) Arthur of Lake Mary, Fla., Kent (Connie) Arthur of Pandora; nine grandchildren: Annie (Michael) Gill, Amie (Nathaniel) Smith, Erin (Chris) Davis, Isaac (Ashlyn) Arthur, Jackie (Jason) Stall, Jessie (Nathan) Eubank, Caleb (Jessie) Arthur, Levi (Courtney) Arthur and Amelia Arthur; 16 great grandchildren; and a sister, Frances Scialla of Albuquerque, N.M.
Melvyn was preceded in death by a brother, Rear Adm. Paul Arthur and a sister, Christine Mitchell.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday June 17 at Gilboa United Methodist Church. Pastors Vijay Buck and Tom Graves will officiate. Burial will be in Harman Cemetery, Gilboa, where military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be Monday from 2- 4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pandora-Gilboa Athletic Boosters or Gilboa United Methodist Church. The family would like to express its appreciation to Bridge Hospice and it's staff for their excellent care given to Melvyn. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com
