David Earle Mellinger – Fallowfield Township
David Earle Mellinger, 83, of Fallowfield Township, passed away suddenly on Jan. 27, 2024. Born on Nov. 5, 1940, in Smithton, Pa., Dave graduated from South Huntingdon High School, Class of 1958. Following high school, Dave served honorably in the United States Army for three years, stationed in Germany, where he achieved the rank of corporal in the Military Police and the honorary Green Beret. Dave retired as a structural steel ironworker. He then formed 3-D Corp., a construction company in 1973. He later had a shoe and leather repair shop called Dave’s Leather Shop for 13 years. Dave enjoyed selling his leather products at craft shows in the area and around the state. Dave belonged to the Monongahela-Charleroi Masonic Lodge 337, where he was honored as Man of the Year in 2010 and received his 50-year recognition pin in 2023. He also belonged to American Legion Post 22 in Charleroi and the Roscoe Gun Club, where he enjoyed trap shooting. Through the years, Dave enjoyed meeting different groups of friends for coffee each morning, most recently at Charleroi Archery Club. Dave was Lutheran, a member of the Charleroi Christ Lutheran Church for 58 years, serving on the church council and as a lector. Surviving to cherish Dave’s memory are his wife of 58 years, Bonnie F. (Jobes) Mellinger; his daughter, Leslie (Keith S.) Woncheck; two grandchildren, Nora Faye and Keith David Woncheck; his brother-in-law, Donald (Marilyn) Jobes Sr.; sister-in-law Wendy Mellinger; his nephews and niece, Donald (Sheila) Jobes Jr., Aaron Mellinger, Matthew Mellinger and Theresa (Tom) Lucy; several cousins; and Dave’s good friend, Mike Plevco. Dave is also survived by his sister, Judy Mellinger; and family in Tennessee. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, David E. and Gertrude Sossa Mellinger; and his brother, Barry Mellinger. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for monetary donations to be made to Christ Lutheran Church in Charleroi, 601 Washington Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022. Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at HOGAN-MELENYZER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES INC., 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, inside the funeral home. Interment will follow at Monongahela Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hogan-melenyzer.com.
