Melvin Douglas Lanning

Melvin Douglas Lanning, 91, of Hampton, Virginia stubbornly departed this life on May 19, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on July 25, 1934, in Salisbury, North Carolina where he lived until young adulthood. Melvin is survived by his beloved wife, Donna, with whom he shared just shy of 72 years of marriage. Their journey together began in 1954, in their hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina. Melvin enlisted young and served his country with honor and pride as a member of the United States Navy for three years. Taking a leap of faith they relocated with three young children to Hampton, Virginia in 1966 where he started a new career as a proud shipbuilder for Newport News Shipbuilding, retiring as a welding foreman in 1993.

Melvin was a man of deep faith and was an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, where he worshiped almost every Sunday until his death. He was also a Master Mason at Monitor Lodge, and was proud to receive his 60-year pin in 2025. He attended every lodge meeting he could, usually driving himself, insisting on climbing the stairs to attend the meeting, leaving the lift for “those who couldn’t make it up the stairs.”

Melvin loved camping with his wife Donna, (and of course the dog) and their many friends in the Peninsula Good Sam Camping Club for many years. After retirement, they made two trips cross-country in their RV, stopping to reconnect with old friends and family, visiting San Diego and Coronado, California where they were stationed while in the Navy. Melvin was always ready for a road trip, whether it was to see his old LST Ship in Wheeling West Virginia with his kids, traveling to pick up vehicles of all kinds for local car dealerships, and once (and only once) acted as a “Repo-Man.” He loved dropping a fishing line with his son, working out at Planet Fitness with his daughter, enjoying Saturday breakfast, cruising to Fort Monroe, or just going shopping at the grocery store.

Melvin is survived by his three children, Keith Lanning (wife Sheri), Melanie Harris, Gwyn Gridley (husband Scott), five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Joanne Lanning (Brother Ernest’s wife).

Melvin was predeceased by his parents, George and Lillian Lanning, and two brothers, Walter (wife Vercie) and Ernest Lanning.

Though he is no longer with us, his memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends and even those he didn't know, because he never knew a stranger.

May he rest in eternal peace.

A service to honor and celebrate Melvin's life will be held on May 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Parklawn Wood Funeral Home, located at 2551 N Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.