John Melvin Waldrip

Mel was born on June 22, 1938, in Globe, Arizona, and raised on the family ranch in Pleasant Valley before his family relocated to Phoenix in the early 1940s. He was born five minutes before his identical twin brother, Marvin. Mirror twins, Mel was left-handed and Marvin right, different in temperament, politics, and career paths, but inseparable throughout their lives.

Mel attended Camelback High School, where he was an athlete, including as a pole vaulter. As a child, he spent two years as an inpatient at Phoenix Children’s Hospital due to a serious bone disease, an experience that helped shape his resilience and enthusiasm for life.

Known for his humor, charm, and generosity, Mel made friends easily and maintained lifelong relationships. He lived adventurously and enjoyed motorcycling, boating, water skiing, skin diving, auto racing, and flying light aircraft and ultralights. In 1980, he made local news after he and a flying buddy buzzed ASU Stadium in their ultralights during a Rolling Stones concert.

Professionally, Mel spent fifteen years with the phone company before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1982, he founded Telephone Warehouse, a family-run business that remains in operation more than forty years later and employed multiple generations of family members.

Mel survived esophageal cancer following extensive surgery in 2005 and later lived many years with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite his health challenges, he remained cheerful, sociable, and content.

Mel was preceded in death by his wife Sandy, his brother Tommy, his son Russ, and his stepson Bob. He is survived by his sister Janice, brother Marvin, his sons Rick and Rob, stepchildren David, April, and Shannon, fifteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, extended family, and many friends.

Mel will be remembered for his warmth, humor, adventurous spirit, and devotion to family and friends.