Lawrence M. “Melvin” Gill, 89, of Grandview, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025, at The Waters of Rockport.
Melvin was born in Hinton, West Virginia on September 26, 1935, to the late Edward and Birdie (Hatcher) Gill.
He was stationed in Germany from 1958-1961 while serving in the U.S. Army.
Melvin was a previous member of the Grandview City Council and a volunteer guitar instructor at the Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. He played with his band, Porter Ridge, at the Rosine Barn Jamboree every weekend for many years.
Melvin was a man of many talents in addition to being a self-taught musician. He was an excellent mechanic and an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping, fishing, and hunting. He also enjoyed finding and restoring antiques.
Melvin worked for C&O Railroad in West Virginia, worked in construction in Kentucky, and retired from Armco/AK Steel in Ashland, Kentucky.
In addition to his parents, Melvin was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Phyllis (Keaton) Gill, and his siblings, Phyllis Whitaker, Edward “Toppy” Gill, Carol Berg and Danny Gill.
He is survived by his daughter, Vicki (Wally) Moninger of Grandview; his grandsons, Nick Moninger of Evansville and James (April) Moninger of Rockport; his great-grandsons, Lucas Jones, Carson Moninger and Dean Moninger; his brother, Jackie (Ruth) Gill of Hinton, WV; his brother-in-law, Harold Leroy Keaton of Palmyra, VA, and many nieces and nephews.
He will be dearly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 4 until 6 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Boultinghouse Funeral Home in Rockport.
Another Celebration of Life will be held from 12 until 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, with a funeral service at 2 p.m. at Pivont Funeral Home, 100 Park Ave., Hinton WV 25951. Burial will follow at Restwood Cemetery in Hinton, WV.
