COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. – Melvin A. Lane, 84, formerly of Millinocket, passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. He was born Jan. 15, 1927, in Orono, the son of Jotham and Gertrude Lane.
He was a graduate of Mattanawcook Academy, Lincoln, Class of 1945. He entered the U.S. Army in 1945, serving in Italy for one year and was honorably discharged in January 1947. He attended the University of Maine, Orono, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also attended courses at American Institute of Banking in the 1970s. Melvin married the love of his life, Betty J. Bolster, June 24, 1950. Mel and Betty shared 48 wonderful years together until Betty’s death in 1998. Together they raised two loving daughters, Cynthia and Lauri. Mel loved his wife, daughters and grandchildren with all his heart. Mel served as a loan teller after joining Lincoln Trust Co. in 1951, and transferred in 1958 to the same position with Millinocket Trust Co. He was later promoted to assistant treasurer and later to vice president of that bank which was, by then, Northeast Bank of Millinocket. He then joined Katahdin Federal Credit Union in January 1974 and served as vice president until his promotion in 1983 to president, retiring from that position at age 65. His affiliations included membership in Millinocket Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club, Maine Credit Union League and a member of Credit Union Executives Society. He also had a life membership in Francis E. Elliott Post No. 4145, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was once a member of Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile Club. Mel lived a full life and had many interests. He loved playing his trumpet and trombone, and was once a member of the Millinocket orchestra, playing and conducting. He also played in a four-piece band in the ’50s and ’60s. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his buddies. He was an accomplished carpenter as well. He and his wife put their heart and soul into building their beautiful camp on Millinocket Lake, where they spent every minute they could. In later years, Mel and Betty spent many winters in Alamogordo, N.M. Mel also achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. He loved to fly above Mount Katahdin and the surrounding lakes. When asked what he wanted for Christmas this year, he replied, a Cherokee airplane. He was also a huge sports fan, cheering for the Boston Red Sox, Celtics and New England Patriots.
He is survived by his two daughters, Cynthia Edmonson and her husband, Clayton, of Colonial Heights, Va., and Lauri Landry and her partner, Terry Levesque, of Casco; a sister, Sylvia Bartlett of Rye, N.H.; a brother, Marlin Lane and his wife, Patricia, of Cary, N.C.; five grandchildren, Heather Baine and her husband, David, Aaron Landry, Jeremy, Dustin and Nicholas Lester; two great-grandchildren, Chandler Baine and Gage Lester; several nieces and nephews. Mel was predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty J. Lane, Feb. 23, 1998.
There will be a graveside service in the spring at Millinocket Cemetery at a date to be announced. Gifts in memory of Melvin may be sent to Katahdin Area Support Group, 10 Field St., Millinocket, ME 04462.