Melvin Wiland

Lonaconing, MD

Melvin Ellsworth Wiland, Sr., 95 of Lonaconing went home on December 1 , 2020 to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he faithfully served.

Born August 31, 1925, he was the son of the late Elbert Roy and Clara Alice (Ferguson) Wiland. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Hilary Wiland; and his sisters, Grace Crawford, Gladys Kroll, Dorothy Becker, Betty Mauck and Twyla Harrison.

Melvin was a proud United States Navy Veteran, having served on the USS Manchineel. He served during the European theatre of WWII. Melvin was a member of the Frostburg Assembly of God Church for over 50 years and a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Lonaconing for the past seven years. He worked at Kelly Springfield Tire and retired after 39 years as the plant maintenance supervisor. Melvin also had his own home improvement company. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and was also a member of the Westernport American Legion.

Melvin had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening. He was an avid rabbit hunter, his family was fed by his persistent rabbit hunting. He would never give up and always had to get a rabbit before he would go home. In his later years of life he enjoyed feeding the birds.

Melvin was an honest man and a true giver. He spent seventy three of the last seventy four wedding anniversaries with his wife and loved to tell the story of how he asked Esther to be his bride. He lovingly doted, “That’s my wife.”

Melvin is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Esther Naomi (Loar) Wiland; and his children, Melvin Wiland, Jr. and wife, Barbara, John Wiland and wife, Diana, Linda Gordon and husband Gary, and Barbara Maust and husband, Paul. Melvin is survived by his grandchildren, Stephanie Hottinger, Marsha Wilson, Karen Harvey, Julia Wiland, Kenny Gray, Tina Goss, Mary Gray, Doreen Haggerty, Devina Greise, Destiny Willison, Carrie Pifer, Laurie Poole, Nathan Maust and Jonathan Maust; his thirty nine great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Gerald Wiland and wife, JoAnn and Mary Ross.

Family and friends will be received at the Liberty Christian Fellowship in Cresaptown on Friday, December 4th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. A funeral service will take place following the visitation at 12:00 p.m. with his son, Melvin Wiland, Jr. officiating.

The funeral service will be live-streamed on the Liberty Christian Fellowship Facebook page.

Interment will be at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap, Flintstone.