Melvin Arnold Burgess

December 4, 1923 - July 31, 2013

Mel was born to Ernest and Kathryn Burgess, on December 4, 1923, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He was a WWII Navy Veteran and while serving, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty. They eventually moved to Orlando, Florida, to raise their family. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 23 years of employment.

In their retirement years, he and Betty enjoyed their grandchildren, camping with friends, and summer vacations in their cabin in Otto, North Carolina. He enjoyed writing poems, songs, and writing a couple of books, one of his war memories and another, a story for his granddaughters.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty, of 63 years, and six of his siblings. He is survived by his children and their spouses: (son), Melvin “Micky” D. Burgess and Thao Nguyen; (daughter), Kathleen and Tom Elliott; his brother and his spouse: Tippy and Maxine Burgess; his granddaughters and their spouses: Kristi and Tony Taylor, Kimberly and Tony Ricciardo, Melina and David Brannon II, and Denise and Benjamin Stanaland; his great-grandchildren: Kylee, Joshua, Abigail, Samantha, Julia, Jaxson, and Bethany; and many nieces and nephews, and many good friends and neighbors.

A viewing will take place on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, from 6pm-8pm, at Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral service will take place on Wednesday, August 7, 10am at Maranatha Fellowship Church, 1806 East End Avenue, Winter Park, FL. Arrangements entrusted to Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, 2811 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL. 32806. 407-898-2561.