Kenneth "Kenny Vernon Melvin

Mr. Kenneth “Kenny” Vernon Melvin, 96, of Taylorville, IL., passed from this life at 5:20 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2022 in Taylorville Memorial Hospital.

He was born in Benton, IL August 27, 1925 the son of Barney and Altabelle (Launius) Melvin. Mr. Melvin married Wanda V. Torricelli in Kentucky on November 8, 1946.

He was a member of Davis Memorial Christian Church, the V.F.W and American Legion all in Taylorville, IL. As an avid athlete he was a Taylorville High School Hall of Fame basketball player. He was a regular competitive golfer including the role of Captain of the Men’s Golf League at Lakeshore Golf Club for several years. He pursued higher education with a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois/Springfield and studied for his Masters Degree. In service to his country and community he was a WW2 Navy/Coast Guard veteran, a United States Postal employee for many years and in retirement he was a substitute teacher in the Christian County School System. Kenny was known as a kind and spiritual man. He never met a stranger and was always quick with a smile and a joke. He was truly loved by many as he could always somehow add just a little sparkle of joy to your day just being the man he was. His love for others had no bounds particularly his daughters, his wife, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Kenny, then you have been blessed with a smile and an infectious laughter that will live on forever. He was one of a kind. A genuine man that made a handshake feel like a hug.

Surviving are: his wife Wanda of Taylorville, IL., 3 daughters Marsha Oliver and husband Bill Hall of Arkansas, Becky Toon-Huyear and her husband Lynn Huyear of Carlinville, IL., Mary Kay and husband Keith Allen of Maryland, 5 grandchildren, Joshua Oliver of Florida, Nicholas Oliver of Arkansas, Kelsey (Wilhour) Berman and her husband Daniel Berman of Maryland Jennnifer (Toon) Porter and her husband Justin Porter of Dawson, IL., Derrick Toon of Taylorville, IL., 3 great grandchildren, Asher Oliver of Florida, Hudson Porter of Dawson, IL., Isla Porter of Dawson, IL., unborn great grandchild Jackson David of Arkansas, a brother Barney Melvin of Shelbyville and a sister Phyllis Harris of Taylorville, IL along with nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Troy Melvin, and a son Kenneth Vernon Melvin Jr.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Taylorville, IL. Pastor Dennis Metsker will officiate. Full Military Honors will be rendered by the U.S. Coast Guard, The Taylorville V.F.W. and American Legion. Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the M.S. Association.

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