Master Sergeant,retired Merle "Mel" Lloyd Pears Obituary (1936 - 2021)

Master Sergeant, retired, Merle "Mel" Lloyd Pears passed away Sunday, October 24, 2021, at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida due to complications of COVID 19. Mel was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1936, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania to Laverne M. Pears and Mildred Little Pears. He graduated from Tionesta, Pennsylvania High School in 1954. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, retiring after 21 years of service in 1975 as a Master Sergeant. He served in Germany, Turkey, Korea and North Africa. Mel worked for 10 years at Magnetics in East Butler, PA and later for the United States Patent Office in Boyers, PA. He was a member and Past Master of the Victory Lodge 694 F&AM, Butler, and a member of Harmony Lodge 429 of Zelienople, PA. He was also a member of the Valley of New Castle Scottish Rite Masons as a 32 degree Mason, a member of Syria Shrine Temple, Cheswick, PA, of the American Legion Post 828, Air Force Sergeants Association, and a life member of DAV Chapter #64. Mel was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Butler, PA. He is survived by his second wife, Renate; son, Merle L. Pears, Jr. and wife, Joyce Morrow of Butler, and son, Michael L. Pears, Jr. and wife, Xin/Gloria of Chicora; grandchildren, Michael Pears, Jr., Laura Pears Goodale, Mindy Pears Carrington, Ryan Pears, Sarah Pears Cully and husband, Ryan, Nicholas Pears and fiance, Alexis, and Colton Pears, along with many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife of 60 years, Mary Lou Collingwood Pears, whom he married in Tionesta Methodist Church on June 14, 1954; and by his youngest son, Mark Lawrence Pears; and a grandson, Timmy Pears. Visitation will be Sunday, October 31, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, PA 16001, where a Masonic service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Services will be Monday, November 1, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc. 124 East North Street, Butler, PA 16001 with Rev. David Janz, officiating. Officers and Members of the American Legion Post #117, American Legion Post #778 and VFW Post #249 will conduct military services at graveside at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mt. Chestnut. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to Shriners Hospital, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607