Melvin James Uridil, 27 Mar 1920 - 26 Jun 2016

URIDIL, ZEMAN, SHINE, SHAULL, ELLIS, RYALS, LIND

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/5/2016 at 16:20:11

Mel Uridil, age 96, of Victor, died on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor with Pastor Jim Davis, Victor United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment with military rites will be at Victor Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor and his family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening.

Memorials may be designated to the Highland Ridge Care Center and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 485, Victor, Iowa 52347. Mel's family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the wonderful and loving care provided by the staff at Highland Ridge Care Center in Williamsburg.

Melvin James Uridil was born on March 17, 1920, in Toledo, Iowa, to Louis and Celia (Zeman) Uridil. He was raised in Toledo, Ladora and Victor, respectively, and he graduated from Victor High School with the class of 1937.

Following his education, Mel began driving a stock truck and then a fuel truck for Emil DeMeulenaere in Victor. In 1941, Mel purchased the service station from Emil DeMeulenaere and one of the longest, family-owned service stations in Iowa was created, Mel's Standard Service, which served the Victor area for nearly 70 years. He was united in marriage to Gladys Pearl Shine on June 3, 1937, in Victor. The couple resided in Victor and was blessed with a daughter, Linda.

Mel honorably served in the United States Army from 1943 until 1946 during World War II and was stationed in Okinawa. During that time, Ed Cahill managed the service station for Mel. Following his military service, he returned to Victor and continued to operate the service station and Greyhound Bus Service. When Highway 6 was rerouted north of Victor, Mel expanded his operation to include servicing large trucks, the sale of International trucks, and later built the first car wash in Victor.

Mel's family and his service station were his life. He worked long hours at the service station, including Saturday and Sunday, but at noon on Sunday he closed the station so he could spend time with his family. He held a special love for his Dachshund dogs, Brownie and Rusty. Mel was very generous and enjoyed helping people each and every day, whether it was fixing a car or helping someone with a bill they couldn't pay. He was very proud of the family home that he built in the southwest corner of Victor in 1958. He spent countless hours enjoying the beautiful landscape and sunsets through his front windows. Mel was a member of the Victor American Legion and served on the Victor City Council.

Mel is survived by his daughter, Linda (David) Shaull of Locust Grove, Oklahoma; three grandchildren: Anthony (Melayne) Shaull of Columbus, Indiana, Timothy (Jill) Shaull of Farmington, New Mexico, and Thomas (Talia) Shaull of Tulsa, Oklahoma; six great grandchildren: Julia Ellis, Nandry Ryals, Chandra, Ethan, Indy and Dalane Shaull; and three great great grandchildren: Aden, Paisley and Roman Ryals.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gladys Uridil in 1991; grandson, Tyler Shaull in 2002; brother, Leroy Uridil; and special friend, Marie Lind.

Smith Funeral Home
Abbreviated below:
The Gazette, 27 Jun 2016, 9a
The Journal Tribune, 29 Jun 2016
The Warrior Tribune, 29 Jun 2016