Melvin Horton Eckles Jr.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Melvin was born June 21, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of the late Melvin Horton Eckles and the late Gertrude Stallard Eckles. He was a 1958 graduate of Purdue University. Melvin retired from the US Army in 1979 after 20 years of service. During his military service, among other awards and/or badges, he was awarded the National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (2D AWD), Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2D OLC), Air Medal (14th AWD), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Meritorious Service Medal, Master Army Aviation Badge, and Army Aviation Badge.

To his family and friends Melvin will forever be known as “Daddy Mel” or “Big Daddy Mel”. He loved spending time on the lake and at the beach, eating at his favorite restaurants and shopping at his favorite stores. Most of all he loved traveling to Indiana with his son to watch his Purdue Boilermakers .

He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Eckles.

He is survived by his daughter, Tracy S. Moore (Kevin) of Chapin, his son Trey Eckles (Chris) of Irmo, six grandchildren, Justin Moore, Kirsten Moore, Eric Moore, Shaina Moore, Zachary Slice, and Alexis Moore, five great grandchildren, Ethan Moore, Jackson Moore, Braylon Moore, Kendyl Moore, and Emberlee Moore, his sister-n-law Cindy Leitner (Claude), his nieces, nephews, his special friends at the beach, and all of his “adopted children”.