Melvin Harold Eaton
Virginia Beach – Eighty eight year old Captain Melvin Harold Eaton, USCG Retired, passed away November 24, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. Born in Norfolk, he was the son of the late Ruth Capps and Raleigh Eaton. Melvin was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Antoinette B. Eaton of Sebrel, VA.
He grew up in Back Bay, VA and has been a member of Charity United Methodist Church in Back Bay his entire life. He proudly served his country for 37 years in the Coast Guard during WWII, both the N. Atlantic and Pacific conflicts. He retired in 1976 as Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads. Melvin was a member of the Chief Warrant Officers Assoc, Norfolk Seaman’s Friends Society, longtime member of Norfolk Kiwanis Club & charter member of Pungo Kiwanis Club, life member of Veterans Foreign Wars #1211 and on the Major’s Veterans Committee. He was the yeoman of the C.C. Corp which created the dunes at Sandbridge. He was one of the Honarary Grand Marshalls at Pungo’s Strawberry Festival 2008. With great pride in his last year he was part of the initial group who created the Senior Resource Center and a present board member which serves S. Virginia Beach.
Melvin leaves behind to cherish his memories his son, Melvin H. Eaton II from Key West; daughter, Jaynine A. Nelson and her husband Dean from Hawaii; and 13 year old grandchild, Makani T. Nelson.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 29, 2008, at Charity United Methodist Church, 4080 Charity Neck Rd in Virginia Beach. Burial will immediately follow in the church’s cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5792 Greenwich Rd in Virginia Beach. Memorial donations may be made to the Charity United Methodist Church, “Mike Eaton Memorial Fund”, 4080 Charity Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457. Condolences may be offered to the family at altmeyer.com.
Dear Mel & Jaynine,
Your Mom & Dad were among our favorite friends! Enjoyed many a golf game with your Dad, along with the story telling that followed. Although we were never stationed together during our days in the Coast Guard, we have been close friends since we first met here in the early eighties. Your Mom was forever a wonderful lady & your Dad a perfect gentleman. Get-togethers at our homes were always great fun to be remembered forever.
Dear Mel and family —
Your dad’s constant smile and obvious love of life made him such a joy to be around! Like so many others, I valued and appreciated the fine gentleman you are fortunate to claim as “Dad”, and my thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve his loss.
Sheila
Hey Guys,
We’re with you in Spirit & you’re in our thoughts & prayers. So many fun memories of both Mike & Toni–wouldn’t know how to begin… Hope they’re laughing up there–as their Spirits Live On! Love to you all–Kim & Matt
Jaynine, I am so very sorry to hear about your Dad. I ran into him at the eye doctors about 3 months ago and he looked really good. We had a very nice conversation and I told him that I was getting married again. He asked me who and when I told him he said that he had served in the Coast Guard with Allen’s father. It is really a very small world that he knew of Allen and his family. Will always remember your parents with fond memories. My Mom and Dad thought alot of both of them. Take care, Becky
Mel, Long time-no see. So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. My dad died almost 7 years ago and not a day goes by that I can’t hear him . Hell, I’d give anything just to have him walk in and tell me something else I’ve done wrong.I look forward to catching up with you sometime under different circumstances. Besr wishes, Jeffrey
Mel,Jaynine, Dean and Makani,
Our thoughts and love are with you at this difficult time as you say goodbye to father, father-in-law, and grandfather. We miss you.
Mel; Mike will be greatly missed at both Charity UMC and Kiwanis Club of Pungo. He was a faithful member of each.
Melvin was loved very much by our family and will be greatly missed. He was always there to make us feel a real part of his life even though we were miles away. We will really miss him.
Melvin was very special to me.
I will miss visiting with him greatly, during my trips to Virginia. He and Toni helped me with the Capps side of the Family Tree, with photos and stories about our Great Grandmother, Grandparents and other family members I never got to meet.
I WILL MISS YOU MELVIN! :
Mike was just a great person and meant so much to me and the Patterson family. Mark and Michele looked to him as their grandfather here in Virginia Beach. His memory will be with us forever.
Mike was the most charming, sweet, thoughtful, well meaning, considerate, down to earth, FUN, involved, helpful, tenacious, strong, practical, supportive, playful, hobnobbing, smart, engaging person a friend could ever ask for. IâÄôm sure I missed a few other words, but if you knew him you can fill in the blanks
The world is a better place for having had Mike & Toni in it. And I am a better person for having known them both. From the moment we moved across the street 27 years ago, to Wednesday morning at 6:30am, he was my closest friend and confidant. Not a day when by without talking, learning and most of all laughing. He loved to laugh & tease and always looked forward to another day filled with helping others and enjoying every minute of it. The EatonâÄôs always had an open door and glass wine for all that were blessed enough to know them. Mike and Toni were my oasis and having let them both go in such a short time is the most difficult feelings I have ever had to process. They taught so muchâÄ_all you had to do was be around them and absorb the storiesâÄ_ the Polo poniesâÄ_recipesâÄ_gardening, flower picking and life as it flowed. They LOVED to share. They loved people. They loved to party!
And yet there is great comfort at this time knowing Mike & his bride are together again in eternity, but as he would say if were here. I didnâÄôt see THAT coming. He was on fire with life and the world was his oyster. Between him and all his military contemporaries he was indeed ALMOST the last man standing.
With deepest sympathy. Mike was a very special person. My late husband and I enjoyed his friendship for many years.
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on on that Topic: altmeyer.com/obituaries/capt-melvin-h-eaton-uscg-ret/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Here you will find 91330 additional Info to that Topic: altmeyer.com/obituaries/capt-melvin-h-eaton-uscg-ret/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Info to that Topic: altmeyer.com/obituaries/capt-melvin-h-eaton-uscg-ret/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More Info here on that Topic: altmeyer.com/obituaries/capt-melvin-h-eaton-uscg-ret/ […]
… [Trackback]
[…] Read More Information here on that Topic: altmeyer.com/obituaries/capt-melvin-h-eaton-uscg-ret/ […]