Melvin Lloyd Tompkins

TOMPKINS — Melvin Lloyd, 93; born March 23, 1923, Portland, Ore.; died April 18, 2016, Marrietta, Ga. Surviving: son, Randy, Marrietta; daughter, Claudia Carol Armstrong, Spokane, Wash.; brother, Richard, Yucaipa, Calif.; sister, Maxine Vixie, Portland; 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Mel assisted with evangelistic meetings in Idaho and Oregon in the early 1950s and then pastored several churches including White Salmon, Brookings, Port Orchard and Gold Beach, Ore., during the 1950s.

In 1961 he accepted an associate pastor position at Sligo Church in Takoma Park, Md. During his 6-year stay, he and Bill Loveless developed the Student Missionary program that proved to be so successful that other colleges and universities wanted to do the same.

Mel was also known for his beautiful trombone music. He touched the hearts of many people with his music.