Melvyn Ethington

Melvyn "Mel" Carlos Ethington, 70, of Flagstaff, died unexpectedly at home Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.

Mr. Ethington was born Jan. 4, 1938, in Chandler, to Ralph Price and Veda Haymore Ethington. He married his high school sweetheart, Virginia "Ginger" Anne Watson on June 14, 1957, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.

Mr. Ethington moved to Northern California with his family when he was 8 years old and went to school in the Nicolaus, Calif., area. He was in the hay and dairy business for the first seven years of his married life. In 1964, he went to work for Greyhound Bus Lines as a bus driver and worked out of El Centro, Calif., Phoenix and Flagstaff for 26 years. He then drove for several small charter bus lines out of Southern California and Phoenix for 14 years, driving approximately 3 million miles over his 40 year career as a bus driver. The last 12 years he has led tours to the Copper Canyon in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. In the transportation community, he was well respected on both sides of the border. The many people that traveled with him on tours throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico enjoyed his expanded knowledge of the areas in which they traveled as well as his quick wit and wonderful sense of humor.

Mr. Ethington was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed serving and giving his time to his family and his church family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Ginger; daughter Janelle (Matt) Gaus; sons Ran (Vickie) Ethington and Russ Ethington; sister Darla (Burke) Adams; brother Floyd (Linda) Ethington; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his infant sister Yvonne; brothers Lloyd and Harold; parents Ralph and Veda; and an infant granddaughter.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association.

A funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m., with a viewing one hour before, at the Lake Mary LDS Chapel, 4165 S. Lake Mary Road, in Flagstaff. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.norvel http://owensmortuary.com">owensmortuary.com.

Norvel Owens Mortuary is handling the arrangements.