Melvin Stoddard

Mel Stoddard passed away on April 22th in Placerville, CA having turned 80 last September, becoming a great grandfather four days earlier and only hours after celebrating his 59th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his wife Georgia, sister JoAnn (Elson), brother Bob, four children (Bob, Steve, Leanne and Rick), six grandchildren (Jason, Stacey, Dustin, Erin, Ryan and Kelsey), one great grandchild (William) and his “man’s best friend” (Maggie).

Mel was born in Boise, ID in 1934 to Mel Sr. and Ruby Stoddard. They moved to Marysville, CA at age 8 and then on to Los Banos, CA where he played high school baseball and football, met Georgia Lee White and was married. He worked for the JF Shea Company for nearly 38 years where he started as a warehouseman and eventually became a divisional General Manager. He and his family lived in 10 cities between California, New Mexico, New York and Illinois.

Mel faced much adversity in his life. He had a job related accident as a young man that eventually resulted in a liver transplant in 1996. Living with a compromised immune system led to numerous serious infections and kidney failure requiring a rigid schedule of dialysis about a year ago. Through it all, he had a driven, surviving attitude.

Mel was a dedicated family man, with his family being the most important thing in his life. He loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports, attending family gatherings and camping. Mel loved Ford trucks (extended family owns 24) and was a big fan of the SF Giants, SF 49ers, Sacramento Kings and Sacramento Seals.

Please direct any honorary donations to:

American Kidney Fund

11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300

Rockville, MD 20852

http://www.kidneyfund.org/donate/memorial-gift/