Melvin Carruth,

Melvin Ralph Carruth Sr., a Malvern area resident for 63 years passed from this life on February, 10th, 2009. He was 83. Carruth lived in the Big Creek community outside of Malvern at the time of his death. Carruth was born in Hamburg, Arkansas on February 25, 1925, where he also spent his childhood. He was the only child of the late Harrison Carruth and the late Alma Ruth Bittner. His mother, who was a Haney, was born and raised in Wilma, Arkansas and his father was born and raised near Hamburg. Carruth served in the Navy in the South Pacific aboard a destroyer, the USS Stockham, during World War II. After the war Carruth received an honorable discharge with a rank of Electrician 3rd Class Petty Officer and returned to Arkansas. He settled in Malvern and worked in an electronics repair shop before beginning work in 1948 as a maintenance electrician with Reynolds Metals Company in Jones Mill where he had a 40 year career. He married the former Vella Jeannette Ethridge at the home of her parents on June 1, 1951. Carruth loved the outdoors, including hunting and fishing. After retirement he and his wife spent much of their time camping and fishing on Lake DeGray. Carruth was a Mason for over 50 years and had been a longtime member of the Industrial Lodge of Jones Mills and in recent years a Past Master Mason of the Rockport Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Big Creek Baptist Church. Carruth is survived by his wife, Jeannette, children; Melvin Ralph Carruth, Jr. and wife Sharon, residents of Huntsville, Alabama; Karen Elaine Hasty and husband George, residents of Little Rock, Arkansas; Cynthia Ellen Carruth, of Rock Hill, South Carolina; Alicia Ann Neighbors and husband Mike, residents of Tucson, Arizona and Richard Harrison Carruth and wife Holly, residents of Collinsville, Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Daniel Carruth, Jason Carruth, Brian Carruth, G. A. Hasty, Seth Hathcock and John Ethridge. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 12, 2009 in the Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2009 at the Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Mark Thorton officiating. Interment will be in Lono Cemetery, Malvern, Arkansas.

Melvin Carruth,

February 25, 1925 - February 10, 2009