Walter Melnik, 88

POLAND - Walter Melnik, 88, of Shetland Lane, passed away Monday evening, Dec. 21, 2009, at Park Vista of Youngstown following an extended illness.
Walter was born Nov. 24, 1921 in Campbell, a son of the late Stephen and Eva Litwin Melnik, and was a lifelong area resident.
Walt was a 1940 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School and subsequently served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. In the Air Corps, Mr. Melnik attained the rank of Master Sergeant and was a weather forecaster and hurricane and typhoon hunter.
After serving in the military, Walter attended Case Western Reserve University and was a 1949 graduate of the Cleveland Engineering Institute. He also attended the University of Chicago, where he studied meteorology.
Walter worked as a structural engineer for Boardman Steel for 27 years, retiring in 1989. Previously, he had worked for Clingan and Frost Architects for 13 years, did consulting work for Gunner Field airport in Wisconsin and for Caterpillar Club in Montgomery, Alabama.
Mr. Melnik was a member of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Youngstown, where he was a member of the church choir and was a lector. He was also a member of the church council, was a member of the building committee and was an advisor to the construction of the St. Anne Church complex in Austintown. He was also an advisor to the construction of the Holy Trinity parish shrine project. For his dedication to the church community, Walter received the Papal Award for his outstanding service to the church.
Walter was a member of the Cursillo Movement, the League of Ukrainian Catholics, the Mahoning-Shenango Alumni Association, the Ukrainian National Association, and the Ohio Cultural Society. He was a partner in the Skyway Lane Bowling Center in Coitsville Township in the 1960s, and was a member of the Holy Trinity - St. Anne golf league and of the Gaelic Society golf league.
Mr. Melnik was also a member of DAV Chapter No. 2, was a member of the Air Force Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and of the Air Weather Association.
His wife, Anne T. Lapin Melnik, whom he married April 20, 1963, passed away April 23, 2005.
Mr. Melnik leaves three sisters, Anna (Charles) Kihm of Austintown, Olga Kowalczyk of Lowellville and Maria (Edward) Tirpack of Campbell; and several nieces and nephews.
Walter will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Peter P. Melnik, who was killed in World War II in 1945.
Family and friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown, where a prayer service will be conducted at 2 p.m., followed by the recitation of the rosary. A Cursillo bible vigil will also take place.
Funeral services will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home, and continue at 10 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church on Rayen Avenue.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Lowellville, where Walter will be laid to rest next to his wife.
Visit kinnickfuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send condolences online.