EDWARD LYLE MELVEN

Anchorage resident Edward Lyle Melven, 71, died Jan. 21, 2005, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. He was born Jan. 12, 1934, in Holly, Mich.

A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, at Anchorage Funeral Home and Crematory. A graveside service with military honors and burial was held at noon Friday, at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Mr. Melven was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Church of Christ. He moved to Alaska in 1973, living in Anchorage and Wasilla from 1976 to 1994. He was a welder by trade. Mr. Melven enjoyed fishing, camping and the outdoors.

His family wrote, "Dad always had a smile on his face for everyone. He traveled the world in the Army and spent some time in Alaska in the '50s. He loved it so much that he moved his young family up from Florida in 1973 and never left."

Mr. Melven is survived by his wife, Linda Melven of Kalispell, Mont.; daughter and son-in-law, Laurie and George Whittum of Whitefield, N.H.; daughter, Beverly Melven of Anchorage; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Jim Nelson of Kalispell, Mont.; son-in-law, Tim Camp of Palmer; granddaughters, Suzanna Whittum of Whitefield, N.H. and Renae Nelson of Kalispell, Mont.; grandsons, Carl Camp of Anchorage and Kalob Nelson of Kalispell, Mont. and sisters, Margaret Dunning and Gloria Melven, both of West Palm Beach, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sisters.

Memorial donations may be given to the Brother Francis Homeless Shelter.