Dorothy Louise Narveson Melvin

Published 12:47 am Thursday, May 19, 2011

Dorothy Louise Narveson Melvin passed away Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Roanoke Landing Nursing Center in Plymouth, N.C. She was born on Feb. 26, 1922, in Forest City, Iowa, the daughter of Andrew and Vera Narveson. On Dec. 26, 1944, she married Ottis L. Melvin in Hollandia, New Guinea.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ottis L. Melvin Oct. 19, 1982, her parents, her brothers Don Narveson, John Narveson, and her sister Ann Agresta.
She attended Waldorf Lutheran College and graduated Cum Laude in 1942, with an associate’s degree in education. After college she taught 7th and 8th grades for one year in Rake Iowa. In 1943, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and reported for duty June 7, 1943. She did basic training at Fort Devins, Mass., and then was stationed at Fort Williams, Maine. She then traveled to San Francisco and boarded a ship and went overseas on Sept. 20, 1944. She arrived in Hollandia, New Guinea on Oct. 10, 1944. She was in Signal Corp Intelligence with top FBI clearance. She was discharged on June 9, 1945, and received the WAAC Service Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the Bronze Star for the New Guinea Campaign.

After being discharged from the service, Dorothy and Ottis lived and worked in Montana for a year then moved back to eastern N.C. They settled in Plymouth in 1966. In 1970 she began teaching the Trainable Mentally Handicapped class in Washington County while continuing her education. She graduated from East Carolina University on May 8, 1981. She retired from teaching in 1988.

She has been a member of Plymouth United Methodist Church since 1966 serving as a Sunday School Teacher, a member of the United Methodist Women and on the Outreach Committee. She was Quartermaster of VFW Post 4023, Board of directors. She served on the Board of Directors and worked at the Plymouth Food Pantry. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi at ECU. She served on the Washington County Child Advocacy Council; she worked with the Special Olympics, taking some of her class to competitions. She served on the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Development Center. She was a member of PUMC’s XYZ club, an honorary member of the DAR, and a member of the American Legion of North Carolina.

She is survived by her daughters Hilda M Swain with whom she made her home, Helen M. Pittman, husband Robert, sons Andrew L. Melvin, wife Aon, Alvin L. Melvin, wife Becky, Joseph L. Melvin, wife Betsy. Grandchildren, Larry Gammon, wife, April, Angela Faughnan, Jennifer Andrews, Amy Melvin, Amber Melvin, Mellissa Peterson, husband Alan, Jeremy Haislip, William Landers, Stephanie Landers; great Grandchildren, Andrew Miller, Melissa Gammon, Wesley Gammon, Chelsea Faughnan and fiancé William Beaver, Corey Faughnan, Chase Faughnan, Caitey Faughnan, Rebecca Andrews, Carol Andrews, Nicholas Peterson, Natalie Peterson and Davanie Landers and one Great Great Granddaughter Madison Beaver.

Pallbearers will be Corey Faughnan, Nathan Raynor, Jeremy Haislip, William Landers, Alan Peterson and William Beaver.

Miss Dot loved her family, her church and her country. She always gave of herself and she will be terribly missed.

Visitation was held Monday, May 16, 2011, at Plymouth United Methodist Church, 109 East Third St. Plymouth, NC, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at other times at her home, 40 Ange Drive, Plymouth, NC. A funeral service was held Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at 2 p.m. at Plymouth United Methodist Church.
Arrangements are by Maitland Funeral Home, Plymouth, N.C.