John Shaver Melin

John Shaver Melin, 80, of Springfield died Monday, March 16, 2009, at Memorial Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born in Springfield on March 27, 1928, the son of Frank L. Melin and Mary Shaver Melin, and is survived by a sister, Jane (James W.) Wilday of Springfield; nephews Jeff (Martha) Wilday of Springfield and James M. “Jay” (Sandra) Wilday of Littleton, Colorado; and great-nephews, John Wilday of Denver, Colorado, Matthew Wilday of Chicago, Illinois, and Scott Wilday, Brett Wilday, and Kevin Wilday, all of Littleton, Colorado.

John was a graduate of Springfield High School and Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts. Additionally, he did graduate work at Yale University before receiving a Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois.

After completing his formal education and military service with the U.S. Navy, John began a career with IBM which lasted until his retirement in 1990. Although working primarily in New York City, John had a number of overseas assignments, living for six years in Brussels and in Hong Kong for a similar period of time. After retirement from IBM, he remained in New York until 2000 when he returned to live in Springfield.

John was a member and a deacon of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a member of the Sangamo Club and an active supporter of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Amherst Alumni Association.

Visitation will be held at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel on Friday, March 20, 2009, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2009, to be followed by a private family burial at the Fancy Creek Cemetery, Fancy Prairie, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut, Springfield, IL, 62704 or the Fancy Creek Cemetery Association, 31646 Harrison Rd. Athens, IL 62613.