Melvin C. Meekins

Melvin C. Meekins was born February 9, 1932 in Elizabeth City, NC and grew up in Stumpy Point, NC under modest conditions, living in his father's birth home. There he spent much of his time hunting and fishing with his cousins. His family later moved to Norfolk, VA where his father worked at the Naval Shipyard and his mother taught at Maury High School, where Mel graduated. He attended college at Virginia Tech and in 1955 graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He then went to work in Massachusetts for AVCO Corp. There he worked on flight telemetry and system design for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). While in Massachusetts, Mel met Mary Ciulla at a company ball and later married her on March 1, 1959. They moved to North Reading, MA and began a family in 1960.

In 1964, he and Mary moved to Ormond Beach, FL where Mel took a job with General Electric (GE). At GE, Mel took his experience with ICBMs into the Apollo Spacecraft Program. He was an Apollo Spacecraft Checkout Consultant and developed other systems for the Apollo mission. While there, he also worked with the Advanced Engineering Group in the area of research and development and helped develop satellite digital communications simulators. Additionally, he helped develop digital visual and radar flight simulators.

He later went to work for McDonald Douglas as a Launch System and Computer Software Engineer working on and designing several systems, the one he was most proud of being the crawler—the machine used to move the shuttle from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad. He was also a Project Engineer for the Development of the Space Station Checkout System Prototype.

Mel also briefly taught at Daytona Beach Community College. He had a great sense of humor and appreciated exploring new technologies and learning the newest systems. He even owned one of the first home personal computer systems (PET Computer). Once, the family drove all the way to Pensacola to purchase a computer printer, teletype machine and paper tape reader that took up half a wall in their garage. The entire family spent countless hours getting it to communicate with the PET computer.

In his free time, Mel often played bridge with Mary and friends. He also enjoyed playing tennis and golf, collecting things and reading his many technical and medical books. He was extremely interested in researching artificial intelligence and cold fusion. Additionally, he was an avid electronics enthusiast, building a 25" color TV with help from the family, as well as an oscilloscope and other test equipment. Mel enjoyed the outdoors and spent many weekends camping and canoeing with his wife and children. He also looked forward to duck hunting with his son, Ken and the family's beloved labrador, Alex.

Mel is predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Mary Meekins, and is survived by his daughter Beverly and her husband David Steele, his son Ken Meekins and his wife Glenda and his daughter Sandra and her husband Jack Sedlak as well as his grandchildren, Spencer, Harrison and Deirdre Meekins and Jack, Jared and Ethan Sedlak. He is also survived by his brother Sam Meekins, his wife Robin and nieces and nephews: Sam Meekins III, Erica Rorer, Audrey Meekins and Sarah Lovely.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation.

Newcomer Funeral Home
335 E. S.R. 434, Longwood, FL 32750 • 407-260-5400
Visitation: Monday, December 15, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Service: Monday, December 15, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Public Graveside Service: Volusia Memorial Park
548 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 • 386-673-5373
Tuesday, December 16, 2014, 3:00 P.M