Melvin E. Rider, 66, died at 5:50 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at his home in Dongola after a lengthy illness with prostate cancer.
He was born Feb. 4, 1940, in Dongola to Ralph and Vesta (Fisher) Rider.
He married Joan Tweedy on March 14, 1959, in Cobden, and she survives.
Melvin was a member of the Dongola First Baptist Church.
He worked at Bunny Bread in Anna for 24 years.
He also worked at Transcraft, Inc.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, of Dongola; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Martha and Greg Samples and Jennifer Rider, all of Dongola, Cynthia and Raymond Massey of Carbondale and Regina and Harold Birch of Ashmore; one son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Melissa Rider of Dongola; eight grandchildren, Richard and Hope Birch, Jonathan, Justin and Julie Samples, Janelle and Kimberlyn Massey and Bethany Rider; three brothers, Lowell "Bill" Rider, Sam Rider and Earnest Rider, all of Dongola; and 10 sisters, Violet Ulrich of Burfordville, Mo., Elsie Elliott of Dongola, Deloris Mowell of Ullin, Joyce Inman and Rose Horn of Grand Chain, Earline Coville of Scotts, Mich., Mary Lee Allen of Grand Junction, Mich., Lillie Houseman of Makanda, Scheron Gardner of Jonesboro and Fern Larry of Olmsted.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jonathan; twin granddaughters, Charlotte and Noelle; and one nephew, Charles Ray Peterson.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, in First Baptist Church in Dongola, with the Revs. Paul Sadler and Larry Miller officiating.
Burial will be in American Legion Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 28, 2006, at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola, and after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Cemetery and Mount Pisgah Cemetery, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Published in The Southern Illinoisan from 11/27/2006 - 11/28/2006.
Melven attended Union County Grade School, Anna Jr. High and Anna Jonesboro Community High School with the Class of 1960.