George "Melvin" Irwin

George “Melvin” Irwin, 83, of Gallipolis, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 20, 1933 in his home on the family farm to the late Ernest and Iris Fry Irwin. Melvin graduated from Rio Grande High School in 1951. He retired with 33 years service from Bob Evans Farms Sausage Plant. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Gallia County Farm Bureau. He was a life-long farmer and lived on the family farm until his death. In addition to his parents, Melvin was preceded in death by a grandson, Kenneth Ryan Curry, two brothers, Clarence and James Irwin and three sisters, Marianna Tope, Edna Monroe and Frances Marie Irwin. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathryn Mink Irwin; four children, Ernie (Vicki) Irwin, John (Theresa) Irwin, Becky (Mark) Curry, all of Gallipolis and Betsy (Richard) Henderson of Waverly; seven grandchildren, Kelli (Geoff) Cunningham, Daniel Irwin, Joshua Curry, Elicia Irwin, Caleb Curry, Jake and Joe Henderson, step granddaughter, Ashley (Chris) Brown; two great grandchildren, Katy and Evan Cunningham and step great grandson, Bowen Brown; one sister, Ernestine (Jay) Yerian of Jackson, Ohio. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m, Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the Willis Funeral Home with Pastor Alvis Pollard officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Baptist Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from 6-8:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Daniel Irwin, Joshua Curry, Caleb Curry, Jake Henderson, Joe Henderson and Jennings Ferguson. Honorary pallbearers will be Leland “Bud” Tope and Steve Monroe. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Heartland Hospice, 315 Washington St., Suite B, Oak Hill, OH 45656-1500.