William R. Mellen

William “Bill” Raymond Mellen, 91 of Elkhart, went home to be with his Lord on March 27, 2015.

Bill was born to Francis Wm. and Odelia Witt-Mellen in Abilene, TX on Nov. 10, 1923. He married Bessie M. Graham on Dec. 26, 1942 in Newort, KY. Surviving are his children, Pat (Darrel) Holycross of Bellefontaine, OH and Mary Beth (Bob) Wilmore of Goshen; A companion, Shirley Banning of Elkhart, 5 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Bess, his son, Wm. “Bill” Mellen; sisters, Margaret Phillips and Dorothy Plough and brother, Charles Mellen.

Bill retired from Conrail system in 1983 where he worked for 52 years. These included the ST &L, New York/Penn Central and Conrail. Bill was featured in a PBS documentary shown on WNIT called “The Glory Days of Steam”. He was a member of St. Vincent DePaul Church, Goshen Elks Lodge #798, Lifetime member of Knights of Columbus, and the VFW, Goshen. Bill served in the U.S. Army in World War II.

Bill was the Monday night Bingo caller at the Goshen Elks for several years and was a skilled wood craftsman and gardener. He collected Big Band DVDs and CDs and railroad memorabilia and coins.

Friends may call from 5-8 pm Monday, March 30th at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, where a Rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am Tuesday, March 31st at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Prairie Street Cemetery where military honors will be given by the DAV #19 Elkhart.

Memorials may be given to the Center for Hospice Care or American Diabetes Assn. A Celebration of Life dinner will be at a later date.