Melville “Mel” Miller Damron was born on April 16, 1929, to Merriwether and Vesta (Davis) Damron in Annada, MO. Mel served in the US Air Force for twenty-seven years and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. During Mel’s service he spent much time in Germany and Okinawa, The Aleutian Chain in Alaska, served on the crew of the RC-135 “Rivet Joint” aircraft, providing critical battlefield reconnaissance all over the world. Following his military career, he enjoyed driving a truck for ten years. Mel had seen the world from the air and from the cab of a semi. He later wanted to slow down and smell the roses finding his perfect traveling companion and love of his life, Lois Terry. On August 31, 2002, he and Lois married in Bellevue, Nebraska. They traveled far and wide in their RV and enjoyed every minute together.
Mel was a member of Bacon Heights Baptist Church. He had a tremendous caring spirit for all those around him and always put others first. Mel was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many fishing trips over the years with family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his late wife, Rosa Haas Damron; three brothers; and two sisters.
Mel is survived by his loving wife, Lois M. Damron; a daughter, Eva Vesta Chandler and husband Richard of Bellevue, NE; four granddaughters, Sheryl LeBlanc, Barbara Chandler, Diana Bankey, and Jennifer Chandler; and ten great-grandchildren.