Melvin Brothers

Melvin Benjamin Brothers, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 7, 2002, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Nov. 20, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Schweikert Brothers. He and Thelma Reed were married July 3, 1947, in Cape Girardeau.

Melvin was a lifetime resident of Cape Girardeau. He worked for his father at Brothers Painting and Decorating, was self-employed, and then worked at Paramount Painting until retiring in 1985.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and VFW Post 3838.

He served in the U.S. Navy from Dec. 2, 1942, to Feb. 5, 1946, aboard the USS Wadsworth in the Pacific.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bob Bishop of Charleston, S.C.; two brothers, Robert Brothers of Jackson, Mo., Thomas Brothers of Tampa, Fla.; five sisters, Dorothy Renburg of Joplin, Mo., LaWanda Brothers of Springfield, Mo., Betty Kester of Carthage, Mo., Loretta Briggs and Barbara Miller of St. Louis; two grandchildren, Bryan Amlingmeyer and Angie Bishop of Charleston; and two great-grandchildren, Hart Joseph and John Carter Amlingmeyer of Charleston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Loren Boettcher will officiate. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park, with military graveside service by VFW Post 3838 and Missouri Military Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be Mike Brothers, John Brothers, A.R. McKnight, Clarence Kester, Bob Busch, Don Miller, John Schott and Gene Briggs.

Memorials may be made to Living Hope.