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Melvin Mattson Obituary
He was born in 1926 to Swedish immigrants in Gardner, Massachusetts. The family moved to New York City, and he graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1943, number 26 out of a class of 260. He went on to attend the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. His first trip to sea was in 1945 as an engineering cadet and, over the next few years, he made several more trips to sea as an assistant engineer on merchant ships. In 1948, he activated his commission as an ensign in the Navy Reserve and went on active duty as a division officer on the U.S.S. Juno.
He left the navy in 1950, married Joyce Wild in 1952, and received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from George Washington University in 1954. In 1960, he began working at the Department of the Interior, where he became an expert on water desalination and reverse osmosis. He did a lot of job-related traveling throughout his entire career and retired from the government in 1984. For many years afterwards, he continued to work part time as a tax preparer for H and R Block, and later as a volunteer tax preparer through AARP. He was a dedicated runner since the 1970's and was regularly ranked as one of the top runners in his age group by the Washington Running Report.
He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce in 2004. He is survived by a sister, seven children, 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 3:00-4:00 P.M. Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center Street, Manassas, where funeral services will be held 4:00 P.M. Thursday. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capital Hospice, 10530 Linden Lake Plaza, Suite 200, Manassas, Virginia 20109-6434 in loving memory of Melvin E. Mattson Condolences may be sent to www.piercefh.com.
This obituary was originally published in the News & Messenger (Woodbridge, VA).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Bob Murphy
October 1, 2010
With deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Mattson. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
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