Charles Angelo Mellas died January 13 , 2019, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach , Florida .

He was born in Birmingham , Alabama on March 11 , 1925 . He spent most of his life in Mich i gan with his wife , Dorothy , before moving to Palm City , Florida in 1995 . In 2014 , Charlie and Dorothy moved to

Sonata Vero Beach . Charlie was v ery proud to be a " Welcome Ambassado r " a t Sonata . He was warm , friendly and caring . . . a Mr . Congeniality .

Charlie was a proud Veteran of World War II . He was in the U . S . Army Corps from April 17 , 1943, to September 3 0 , 1945 . Charlie was awarded the Purple Heart after his plane , L a dy Lynn , was shot over Germany and crashed landed near Nancy , France .

Before retiring , Charlie was Project Manager and Electrical Engineer at Douglas and Lomason in Troy , Mich i gan .

His fondest memories were golfing and swimming in Northern Michigan at Houghton Lake and Glen La k e . He also loved visiting his in - laws in White Plains , Kentucky .

Charlie considered his greatest accomplishments were surviving W WII and aerial combat , having three terrific children , and building a plant for Douglas and Lomas in Chihuahua , Mexico .

He often spoke of his proudest family moments : He enjoyed his and Dorothy ' s 45th Surprise Anniversary Party . He fondly remembers walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding . Lastly , he was proudest when he watched his grandchildren graduate from co l lege .

Survivors include his son and daughter - in - law , Charles Mand Jewel Mellas of N . Myrtle Beach , S . C . ; daughter an d son - in - law , Cheryl and Paul Showerman, Vero Beach, FL; son and daughter-in-law, James and Cheryl Mellas of Brighton, M I; sister-in-law, Tawana Williams of Blairsville, GA; brother-in-law , Donald Yoss of Appleton City, MO; six grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1110 35th La n e , V ero Beac h, FL 32960; ww w.vnat c.com .

SERVICE: A Military service will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m., January 24 at the South Florida National Cemetery, L a ke Worth, FL. Condolences may be shared online at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.