MELVIN E. THOMAS Indianola Services for Melvin E. Thomas, 81, who passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at the Indianola Good Samaritan Center, will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 3 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Melvin was born June 16, 1932, in Jasper County, IA to Raymond and Edna (DeReus) Thomas. He spent his childhood years as a farm boy, graduating from Mingo High School in the class of 1951. Melvin joined the National Guard and then enlisted in the Air Force in March 1952 where he served four years of active duty during the Korean conflict and received his honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve on July 13, 1959. It was while they were both students at Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, that Melvin met Rose Marie Fridley. They were united in marriage on September 4, 1960, and set up housekeeping in Des Moines, where Melvin was a factory worker, moving to their home in Indianola in the early 70's. Melvin was a faithful member of Indianola Christian Union Church. He enjoyed working for the Lord in his church, among others things as trustee, elder, Sunday school teacher, and choir member. He enjoyed working at Jericho Hills Camp in Lucas, serving for several years on the camp board. Melvin also had gone on four missions to Haiti. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Rose; sisters, Helen Garbe of Ankeny, Colleen (Ron) Henderson of Colfax, Beverly Iske of rural Mingo and Sharon (Jack) Starmer of Kingsland, GA; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Edna Thomas; sisters, Dorothy Brashear and Wilma Wright; and brothers, Harold and Howard Thomas; and two infant brothers, James and Marvin (Melvin's twin). Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, December 2 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with family present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Indianola Christian Union Church, Jericho Hills Camp or Good Samaritan Society. Online condolences may be made at www.overtonfunerals.com.