STEVENSVILLE - Melvin E. Barche Sr., 81 died on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Maryland.

Mr. Barche was born on May 20, 1928, in Olney, Ill., to the late Ernest C. Barche and Marjorie B. (Nicholas) Barche.

He left Olney Township High School in the mid-term of his senior year to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served as a Radar Operator on the USS Bordelon DD-881 for most of his two-year enlistment and spent a few months on the USS Hank prior to his honorable discharge in November -1947. He then spent some time in construction work prior to enrolling in Eastern Illinois State College in Charleston, Ill. He graduated with a B.S. Degree in Education in 1954. Upon graduation, he began an extensive Cartographic Training Course at the U.S. Aeronautical Chart and Information Center in Washington, D.C. He worked for them in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis, Mo. until 1961. He then returned to Washington working for the U.S. Naval Oceanographic/Topographic Office in Suitland. He served as a Survey Officer aboard ships doing deep ocean surveys/charting. He was transferred to the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center in 1978 and remained there until he retired as a Supervisory Cartographer in June 1983.

Melvin had homes in Illinois and Maryland. He spent most of his time at his Kent Island home since 1987, residing in Kentmorr Airpark in Stevensville. He learned to fly in the early '50s and enjoyed flying and restoring planes. He spent many years as a volunteer preparing for the Sun-n-Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. He was a volunteer each year from January until after the fly-in in April.

He belonged to the Experimental Aircraft Association, Antique Aircraft Association, Potomac Antique Aero Squadron, Sport Aviation Association, Florida Air Museum, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Quiet Birdman.

In addition to his special companion, Robin Pender, Mr. Barche is survived by his two children, Melvin E. Barche Jr. and Patricia Leggett; a sister, Anita Webb; three grandchildren, James Harmon, Matthew Barche and Nathan Barche; and two great-grandchildren, Michael B. Barche and Wednesday Abigail Barche.

Bay Times (Stevensville, MD) - Wednesday, October 14, 2009