Melvin Lee Felts was born October 17, 1924 in Pittsburg to Troy Felts and Vivian Williams. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1942 and entered the navy on July 15, 1942. While serving in the U.S. Navy, his parents were employed in a Chicago war plant and his brother, Floyd E. Felts, was a machinist’s mate in the Navy.
In 1945, he was awarded a bronze star and cited by Admiral W.F. Halsey for outstanding service in action against the Japanese. The citation read:
“For outstanding service in the line of his profession while serving as gun captain of a heavy machine gun mount of an aircraft carrier in the western pacific. When the ship was attacked by low flying enemy planes, he caused his mount to be efficiently manned and accurately fired, thereby assisting in the destruction of two enemy aircraft. His alertness, coolness and conduct throughout the action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”
While home on a 22 day leave from the Navy, he married Miss Mary Lou Sanders on April 25, 1945 at the home of a minister in Pittsburg. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sanders, 1205 N. State Street in Marion. She graduated from Marion Township High School in 1944. After the marriage, the couple took a short honeymoon to Chicago to visit his parents and then to Detroit to visit her relatives. He then returned to Seattle, Washington to finish his service and she stayed in Detroit to work at a war plant.
He served on the U.S.S. Lexington where nine hundred Japanese planes were shot down. He earned a bronze star, ten Battle Stars and six Presidential Citations. He participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where three Japanese carriers were destroyed, the Battle of Philippine Sea, supported the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions, and provided support in the occupation of Japan. He was discharged at wars end on VJ day August 15, 1945.
After his military service, Felts started working for Fabick Machinery Company in the service department as a mechanic and later was named shop foreman. He had worked in the home office in St. Louis as a crane and drag line representative. In August 1960, he was named District Manager for Fabick, which is the Caterpillar Tractor Co. dealer with offices in Marion on old Rt. 13 east of Marion. The district covered 11 Southern Illinois counties.
In April 1964, Felts became active in Marion schools and started out by being elected President of the Jefferson School Parent Teachers Association. In 1965, Felts ran for a position on the Marion Unit District Board of Education, won and was re-elected numerous times to the school board. He was elected President of the board in 1968 and served in that capacity numerous times as well.
He was an active member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce serving on many committees including the Industrial Committee Chairman in 1965 and also served as President of the organization.
In February of 1966, Felts was elected President of the Williamson County Shrine Club board of directors.
In 1967, while living at 1205 N. State Street, he was re-appointed to the State and Local Taxation Committee of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
In 1970, he served as the Marion United Fund Drive President and was active in the organization for years.
In 1973, he was re-elected to the Williamson County Fair Board and served as their Vice President and Secretary Treasurer.
In the 1975 city council elections, Felts received write-in votes for a commissioners position even though he hadn’t sought the office.
He was a former board member of Banterra Bank and Past President and active member of the Illinois Association of General Contractors.
He retired from Fabick Machinery Company, where he was Branch Manager.
Mr. Felts was a member of First Methodist Church of Marion, the Marion Masonic Lodge #89 A.F. & A.M. , the Marion Shrine Club and the Marion Elks Club.
Melvin Felts, age 76, of Marion, died Wednesday, October 10th, 2001, at 4:10 p.m. at his home.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, of Marion; one son & daughter-in-law and two daughters & sons-in-law, Jerry & Julie Felts, Sherry & Greg Starrick, and Marsha & Joe Holderfield, all of Marion; six grandchildren, Ryan (& Sara) Starrick, Monica, Felecia, and Marionna Felts, Casey and Dylan Holderfield, one brother and sister-in-law, Floyd Mice & Inge Felts of Evans, Georgia; one Sister-in-law, Madleyn Felts; four nieces: Diana Felts and Pam, Pat, and Gobi.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers: Paul Gene, Robert, and Larry Felts.
Visitation began at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, October 13th, with the funeral service held at 1:00 P.M. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home. Rev. Jim Sloan officiated. Burial with military rites held by Marion VFW Post #1301 followed at Maplewood Cemetery.
(Extracted from the Southern Illinois and Marion Daily Republican articles; Williamson County’s Greatest Generation, Harry C. Boyd; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/31/2013)