Melvin Lewis Beal

Melvin Lewis Beal, passed away October 13, 2019 at Transitions Lifecare in Raleigh, NC. He was born to Joseph M. Beal and Ollie Horton on December 14, 1923, and he grew up in the Carpenter area of RFD Morrisville, N.C.; attending the original Green Hope High School. He received the ‘Athlete of the Year’ award in 1940, the year Green Hope won the North Carolina Basketball Championship in Class C competition. He attended Hardbarger Business School in Raleigh.

In early 1943, Melvin was drafted to the United States Army and served in WWI in England, France and Belgium, discharged in late 1945. After military service he was employed by Carolina Power and Light Company, retiring in 1983. He was a Past Master of Garner Masonic Lodge.

Melvin became a member of Raleigh Friendship Force and served as a Friendship Ambassador in Colombia, Japan, England, Nederland, Germany and Canada. He also served as host to several Ambassadors from other countries. He was fortunate to be involved in the Navel International Program which brought Spanish and French teenagers to America for a month, not to study, but to learn and be a part of the American life. Over the period of several years he hosted eight of those students and visited the families of some of the boys in their homelands.

Music was an important part of Melvin’s life. He sang with many groups, choirs, quartets, trios, etc. In one segment of his life he presented programs, with his guitar, to various groups, senior clubs, civic clubs, Sunday school classes, always having been requested and never any charge.

He was sports-minded, playing tennis until his early 80s. He loved his New York/San Francisco Giants Baseball Team. Vacation times meant he would be going to see his Giants in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, or wherever they were playing in the east.

In his early life Melvin was shy, but as an adult his friendship was open to anyone and everyone available, including great friends in England, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain, with whom he visited multiple times, as well as welcoming them in his home.

Melvin is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Ruth Smith, Myrtle Yates, Earl, Hersal, Edwin and Dorothy. He is survived by his son, Braimon (Wanda), sister, Gaynelle Shaw, granddaughter, Allison Shipp (Julian), great grandchildren Ciaran, Addie, Gabriel and Oakley Shipp, former wife, Emily Partin Beal Romano Currin, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express their extreme gratitude for all of those involved in Melvin’s care at Transitions Lifecare.

The family will receive friends from 1:00pm – 2:30 pm on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Good Hope Baptist Church, 6628 Good Hope Church Rd. Cary, NC 27519. A memorial service will be held at 2:30pm with inurnment to follow at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a memorial contribution be made in Melvin’s honor to Transitions Lifecare in Raleigh, NC.

Condolences to www.ApexFuneral.net