Melvin Gamble

Melvin Maurice Gamble, 90, of Puyallup passed away on Nov. 20, 2015. He was born the second of three boys on June 22, 1925 in Huron S.D. to Carl and Sophia Gamble. After graduating from Annandale (MN) High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He attended Texas A&M and various Air Force Schools where he was in training to be a bombardier aboard a B-24, before being discharged as a Flight Officer in 1945 when WWII ended. It was this training and his schooling at Central Radio and Television School in Kansas City that allowed him to start his career as a Radio Operator for Northwest Airlines. He later served as chief radio operator in Washington DC before moving to Electronic Maintenance at Dulles Airport in Northern VA. He transferred to the Pacific northwest in 1976. Overall, he had a 40+ year career with Northwest. When not working, Mel enjoyed tennis, golf, bowling, reading, volunteering in his church making braille books, gardening, doing home projects and grilling salmon. But mostly his passion was traveling. Along with his wife, they travelled to all 50 states and visited over 30 countries on six continents. Although he was blessed to see so much of the world, his best travel memories were of the coast-to-coast RV trips he and Joan did in their retirement years. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joan (Stelter) Gamble; sons, Jeffrey (Karen) Gamble of Lockport, LA, Kerry Gamble of Puyallup and Greg (Christy) Gamble of Tacoma; brother, William “Bill” (Pat) Gamble; grandchildren, Danielle, Nathan, Laura, Renee, Tyler and Jacob. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Ken Gamble. There will be a Celebration of his life on January 29th at 1pm at St Luke's Lutheran Church, 515 South 312th St, Federal Way. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: St Luke's/Braille Mission