Melvin H. Mathis, 87, of Varnville, South Carolina, died on January 21, 2015.

Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the veterans section of Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea.

Born on May 17, 1927, in Faribault, Melvin was the son of the late Henry and Madelyn Herzig Mathis.

Melvin enjoyed a long career with Scotsman Ice Systems from 1953 to 1990, retiring as a service manager. He and his first wife, Gladyce, moved to South Carolina in 1982 when the plant relocated to Fairfax, South Carolina.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a life member of the American Legion — serving as the post commander of Post 56 in Albert Lea from 1974 to 1975 and as a member of Post 108 in Hampton, South Carolina. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, Spirit of Life Ministries and a master mason of Western Star Lodge 26 in Albert Lea.

Survivors include his son, Mark Mathis, and his wife, Lori, of Rochester; daughters Sherrie Denzene and her husband, Quentin, of Andover and Michele Hill and her husband, Tom, of Moulton, Alabama; stepchildren Jerome Stone and wife, Christine, of Varnville, Cindy Swink of Galax, Virginia, and Lynne Avant and her husband, Glynis, of Varnville; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Gladyce Louise Mathis, in 1987; and his second wife, Frances Leone Mathis, in 2013.

Those who wish may send memorials to the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge of their choice or the Salvation Army.