Melvin Anthony Paterline

Born and raised in a working-class town on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shaped by factories and steel mills, Melvin (known to most as “Mel”) was the oldest of six children. As a young man, he worked in those local factories to help put himself through school. In high school, he was an athlete and leader, serving as quarterback of the football team and catcher on the baseball team. He attended Washington & Jefferson College, where he played football and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While in college he met Victoria King, whom he married while still a student. Their marriage lasted 60 years, and they grew up together— building a life marked by partnership, shared curiosity, and profound commitment.

Melvin built a distinguished career in sales, marketing, and business development working with Fortune 500 companies and ultimately retiring from Ecolab, where he served as Vice President of Sales for the Asia/Pacific region. This role represented the culmination of a long and successful career. He was widely respected for his steadiness, integrity, and ability to lead across cultures. His work required extensive domestic and international travel, and over the years he made his home in six different states and lived abroad in Hong Kong for nearly two years.

Travel was not simply a requirement of Melvin’s career but a central passion of his life, shared deeply with his wife. Over time, they visited more than 80 countries, approaching travel as a way to learn and engage. He took genuine interest in the art, culture, and everyday lives of the people he encountered, forming friendships and connections wherever he went. In celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary in 2025, Melvin and Victoria took a long-anticipated journey together to Jordan and Egypt— a trip of a lifetime that reflected their mutual love of history and discovery.

After retirement, Melvin devoted himself to ballroom dance, becoming a competitive dancer alongside Victoria, embracing the discipline and movement that defined the art. Together, they achieved the level of National Champions, a distinction earned through years of practice and partnership. Dance became a defining shared pursuit and a source of community, friendship, and joy. Melvin also gave back through service, including volunteering with the Dance Project and board roles with USA Dance and the local YMCA.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Victoria Paterline; his son, Brent Paterline; his daughter, Christa Paterline; his grandchildren, Carder and Grayson Paterline; and a large extended family. He is remembered for a life fully engaged with work, travel, and community.

A celebration of life and memorial will be held at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home (515 N. Elm St., Greensboro) on Sunday, January 18th, 2026, at 1:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the Paterline family would greatly appreciate donations to Melvin’s favorite charity, the Dance Project scholarship program which helps young people learn the art that meant so much to him. www.danceproject.org/mel