Melvin A Schrader

Melvin Alfred Schrader was born on January 24, 1937, to Alfred Joseph Schrader and Meta Alvina (Crenwelge) Schrader. After graduating 8th grade at Saint Ann’s Catholic School, he spent a year in the seminary. The following year he went to Central Catholic High School and graduated with the Class of 1955. He continued his education at St. Mary’s University earning a B.S. in Physics in 1959. He continued his education and earned a Masters degree in Mathematics at Saint Mary’s in 1966.

Melvin asked for Patricia Ann Ealy’s hand in marriage. They were married in 1960 and on February 13, 2026, celebrated 66 years of marriage.

For 41 years Melvin worked at Southwest Research Institute. He loved his work and often referred to it as “a thrill a minute”. While at the Institute, among other projects, he developed the Artificial Heart, a blood pressure measuring device, the MRI and Transguide. Two other projects of his now reside in the Smithsonian Institute. When he completed his time at SWRI, he was serving as the Vice President of the Automation and Data Systems Division.

Melvin attributed his professional success to God and the education that he received through the Marianists at Central Catholic High School and St. Mary’s University.

Melvin loved God’s creation. One of his favorite past times was hiking in the Canadian Rockies and photographing the beautiful mountains and amazing wildlife.

Melvin had deep faith in God and in the Catholic Church. Whether teaching CCD, speaking with a waitress at a restaurant, or conversing with doctors, nurses, and physical therapists, he eagerly shared his faith.

Melvin is survived by his beautiful wife of 66 years, Patricia Ann (Ealy) Schrader, his sons Melvin Patrick Schrader and his wife Susan, James Scott Schrader and his wife Terri, his daughter Tammy Patrice Schrader, five granddaughters Shannon Kroh, Sarah Schrader, Stephanie Schrader, Kelly Schrader and Tracy Schrader, and one great granddaughter Elizabeth Marie Kroh.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society or the Central Catholic Scholarship Fund.