Melvin Richard Crew, 71

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Melvin Richard Crew of Chestertown died Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, in Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown. He was 71.

Mr. Crew was born at home Feb. 20, 1936, in Langford, Chestertown, son of the late Marion "Singapore" and Marguerite (Taylor) Crew.

He was a 1955 graduate of Chestertown High School.

Soon after graduation, Mr. Crew enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division until his honorable discharge in 1963.

He returned to Chestertown, where he worked with Acme Markets as a meat cutter for 37½ years, and never missed a day of work before his retirement.

He enjoyed boating, gardening, crabbing and fishing. Following his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his friends at the Elks Lodge, the Blue Bird or the VFW Post 652 Post Home.

Mr. Crew was a charter member of the Chestertown Elks Lodge 2474 for 36 years, as well as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 652, Millington.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, David A. Crew.

He is survived by three sisters, Marlene Schmidt of Clayton, Del., Margaret Ann Pitts of Chestertown and Helen Boyd of Bridgeville, Del.; two brothers, Nelson Crew of Chestertown and William H. Crew of Dillon, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday in Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, where friends may call one hour earlier.

Burial will be in Chester Cemetery, Chestertown.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Humane Society of Kent County Inc., P.O. Box 352, Chestertown, MD 21620.