College Ward, Utah: Melvin Sidney Zollinger, 87, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at his home in College Ward.

Melvin was born September 18, 1920 in College Ward, to Jacob E. and Bertha Aikele Zollinger. Melvin attended school in Wellsville, College Ward, and South Cache High School. He then took GI Vocational Training where he studied farming and received $100 a month pay besides free schooling. He then served in the Army in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1946.

After Melvin returned from the war he met a beautiful girl named Elaine.

Elaine spent her summers in Cache Valley and pumped gas at Roy's Service Station. Melvin asked her to a movie. Elaine was told that Melvin had money, Melvin was told that Elaine was a great cook. They both found out different, but fell in love anyway and were married on Oct. 14, 1947 in the Logan Temple.

Melvin has farmed the same land and has lived in the same home since he was born. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Blacksmith Fork Soil Conservation District for 11 years. This position enabled them to travel to New Orleans, Canada, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Montana. Melvin also served on the Board of Directors for the Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Co. for 14 years. Melvin served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years and has been a Home Teacher for more years than he can remember!

Melvin has his own private workroom which is adorned with the sign, "LEAVE MY STUFF ALONE". He can fix just about anything when he can find his often borrowed tools.

This room also houses his collections of tractorsj hats, Union Pacific Railroad Calendars, and License Plates. Melvin made a playroom for the grandchildren which is a great hideaway. They call it the hole! It is filled with all kinds of toys and dolls and they love it!

Melvin's favorite hobby is snowmobiling. He has participated in this sport since 1969. Melvin also enjoyed his daily trips to Trailside General Store where he met his buddies and caught up on the latest news. He also picked up his wife's 11:00 a.m. Pepsi! He looked forward to Christmastime when the whole family could get together on Christmas eve.

Melvin and Elaine have seven children, 5 girls and 2 boys, they are: (twins) Jean (Paul) Hibbard and Joy (Matthew) Larsen, Paula (Kim) Pitcher, Kathy (William) Fletcher, Sid (Jill) Zollinger, JoLynn Lambert (deceased) and Conley (LaReen) Zollinger. They also raised their grandson, Miles, after his mother passed away. They have 32 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren with one more on the way! He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Euarda Zollinger.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, JoLynn Lambert and a granddaughter, Amy Larsen.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, December 3, 2007 in the College Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary and prior to services at the church from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Interment will be in the Hyrum City Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion. Condolences may be sent to the family at Allen Mortuaries.

“My Grandpa - My hero is my grandpa because he fought in World War II. The reason I admire him is that it took a lot of courage and bravery. He built roads, airports, and bridges. Some of the challenges my grandpa has overcome are his diabetes and he had a knee replacement a couple of years ago. Some of the values that he represents are that he is nice, hard working, very honest, and he loves to eat chocolate. One thing specific that my grandpa has done for my family is that he can fix anything that needs to be fixed. And he loves to use tools. He can fix motors, washers & dryers. My family loves him.”- Written by Alexis Zollinger.