Melvin Leroy Johnson

Melvin Leroy Johnson, longtime Cleveland area resident, passed away on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at the Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa at the age of eighty-two years, seven months and thirteen days.

Melvin was born March 11, 1919 in Morenci, Arizona. He was the son of Joseph Harvey and Laura B. Johnson. Melvin attended school in the Morenci area and then later moved with his family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Prior to entering into the service of his country during World War II, Melvin worked as a derrick man in the oilfields of central Oklahoma for a well servicing company. He was inducted into the United States Navy on April 14, 1944 in Oklahoma City. He was assigned to the Naval Training Center in San Diego and later transferred to the United States Naval Station in Port Hueneme, California. He served for nearly a year on USS Whitley before being honorably discharged on January 2, 1946.

Upon completion of his military service, Melvin returned to Oklahoma City but later moved to California where he began a career in Structural Steel Work. Melvin was a longtime member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, Local 433 in Los Angeles. Upon his retirement, Melvin and Golda moved to Oklahoma near Keystone Lake. Golda preceded him in death on November 21, 1993.

Melvin is survived by four sons, Cliff Luthy, Cleveland, Oklahoma, Bruce Johnson, Los Angles, California, Ronald Johnson, Los Angles, California and Melvin Johnson Jr. and wife Jeannin, Murrieta, California; a brother, Richard Johnson, Cleveland, Oklahoma; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, October 29, 2001 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Pastor J. W. Wright officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

''Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Melvin Johnson is located at www.chapman-black.com.''