Melvin Charles Jones

Mel was born in DeLeon Springs, Volusia County, FL on February 18, 1937, to the late Melvin R. Jones and Nellie C. Jones. He graduated Deland Florida HS in 1955 and enrolled in Davidson College in Davidson, NC as a math and physics major. He transferred to Duke University School of Engineering in Durham, NC to immerse himself in what would become a lifelong passion and 46-year career in electrical engineering. His fraternity was Alpha Tau Omega at Duke and he graduated in 1959 with a B.S.

He lived in Rockledge, FL after graduation, married his first wife, Rosemarie, had two daughters, and made significant contributions as an electrical engineer in the burgeoning Space Coast of FL. He worked with Pan Am World Airways at Patrick Air Force Base and on Antigua British West Indies in support of the U.S. Missile Defense - Space Programs, and with Convair Astronautics at Cape Canaveral and as an electrical site engineer at the rocket launch complexes for the USAF’s Atlas ICBM development, Mercury Astronaut Orbital Launches, and Lunar & Space Program and Atlas-Centaur flights. He worked on Merritt Island for Brown Engineering Co. to contribute designs for the future NASA Kennedy Space Center and improve the NASA Apollo Program launch facilities. Mel joined General Electric Co. (GE) at Cape Canaveral in 1964 to conduct failure and forensic analysis at the NASA launch complexes on the Cape and at Merritt Island’s new NASA Kennedy Space Center. He also earned his first FL Professional Engineer certification and license; something he renewed for the next 50+ years.

Mel returned to NC in 1970 with GE, acquired his N.C. Professional Engineer license, and married his beloved wife Judy in 1977 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. Together they built a loving home in Charlotte where they raised their daughters, managed properties and relished their time together for 47 years. Both Mel and Judy continued their careers in Charlotte; Mel as an Account Manager with GE’s Industrial Sales Dept. in NC, SC, and VA for the Paper, Steel, and Aluminum Mills, Nuclear Fuel Plants, Railroads, Utilities, Tire & Rubber Plants, Coal Mines and U.S. military bases; and Judy as educator in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.

Mel retired from GE in 2005, launched M.C. Jones Consulting and maintained his professional memberships until death.

Mel enjoyed ‘retirement’ with his family in FL, NC, and KY by scuba diving, water skiing, fishing, hiking, spear fishing, and managing a timberland property in FL. He also loved cultivating seeds, making scratch biscuits, taking woodland walks with his beloved red boned hound Razor, and cuddling Heidi Cat until she passed at 20.

Mel is survived by his loving wife ,Judith (Judy) Jones; daughters Karyn Barker of Rockledge, FL, Kristin Starmer (Mike) of Louisville, KY; step daughters Virginia Wright (Chris) of Oakland, CA and Marjorie Bender of Sarasota, FL; four grandchildren, Autum Barker of

Rockledge, FL, Charles Starmer of Arlington, VA, Sarah Starmer of Bowling Green, KY, and Josh Starmer, on U.S. Navy deployment; step grandson Nicholas Lincoln of Sarasota, FL; sister Jeanie Studeman (Jim) of Blowing Rock, NC; niece Leslie Stiles (Michael) of Lafayette, IN; sister in law Virginia Caton of Camp Hill, PA, two brother’s in law Jim Hill (Paige) of Suffolk, VA and Bill Hill (Thelma) of Morehead City, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204.