Totten, Melvin Dean 'Mel'

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: TOTT.M001
• _FGRAVE: 178809711
• Funeral: Antioch Christian Church, Olney, Richland County, Illinois
• Military Service: Staff Sergeant, United States Army

Notes:

Mel grew up in Decker Township. He and Pat, his wife of 58 years moved to the family farm in Decker in 1993 after living in Noble for many years. Mel and Pat would celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary on June 21, 2015.

Mel graduated from Noble Community High School in 1947. His class composition photograph is one of the earliest hung in the hallways of the school that closed in 2014. He is a Veteran of the United States Army and a retired Olney merchant.

On July 19, 1948 Mel reported to Ft. Knox in Kentucky as a new Army recruit. During his first enlistment he was stationed at Camp Cavite, Philippines receiving the National Defense Service Medal awarded to him for honorable active military service as a member of the armed forces of the United States during the Korean War period. Mel re-enlisted for six more years on December 7, 1950. During his second enlistment he served in Germany receiving the Army Occupation Medal for serving as part of the Army of Occupation. He mustered out of the Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 522 Armored Engineering Co. at Ft. Knox on December 7, 1956 going home to farm and start a family with his new bride. Mel has been a member of the VFW and American Legion for many years.

Mel and Pat setup housekeeping on the Gallager Place on Higgin Switch Road in 1957. During the winter of 1959 Mel worked part-time at B. F. Goodrich in Olney. In 1960 he started working full-time. The company transferred him to the Effingham store where he worked primarily as the roadside service technician changing tires on heavy equipment that was building Interstate 70. He was then transferred to the Vandalia store where he was promoted to Bookkeeper. He transferred in 1966 to the OOlney Store as the Bookkeeper and was promoted to Store Manager in 1971, managing the store until the company closed most retail stores. During his tenure with B.F. Goodrich, Mel earned many sales awards. He then worked for Marathon Tire in Olney until his retirement in 2000. Mel continued to work Wednesday mornings until 2014 processing paperwork to return tires for retread.

Military Service:
On July 19, 1948, Mel reported to Fort Knox in Kentucky as a new Army recruit. During his first enlistment, he was stationed at Camp Cavite, Philippines, receiving the National Defense Service Medal awarded to him for honorable active military service as a member of the armed forces of the United States During the Korean War period. Mel re-enlisted for six more years on December 7, 1950. During his second enlistment, he served in Germany, receiving the Army Occupation Medal for serving as part of the Army of Occupation. He mustered out of the Army as a Staff Sergeant in the 522 Armored Engineering Co. at Fort Knox on December 7, 1956, going home to farm and start a family with his new bride. Mel has been a member of the VFW and American Legion for many years.

Melvin married Henry, P.P. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Totten, B.
2. Totton, T.
3. Totten, R.
4. Totten, C.
5. Totten, M.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: TOTT.D001
• _FGRAVE: 32518268

Dewey married Ingram, Lillie Esther on 23 Jan 1919. Lillie was born on 9 May 1896 in Knox County, Indiana; died on 24 Nov 1984; was buried in Olive Branch Cemetery, Olney, Richland County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: INGR.L001
• _FGRAVE: 32518464

Notes:

She was a former member of the Olive Branch Methodist Church and was a recent member of the Pleasant Ridge Church

E.G. + Knight, E.L.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]