Melvin H. Negley

Melvin H. Negley, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Ithaca, NY while surrounded by family on October 8, 2024. Born on December 10, 1929, in Tarentum, PA, he was one of ten children born to the late Homer Clair and Anna Mae (Pierce) Negley. His younger years were spent with his family in the Saltsburg/Indiana area of PA.

Melvin loved his Lord and was born again. He attended Practical Bible Training School in Binghamton, NY and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL, before earning his Master’s of Theology from Burton College in Colorado Springs, CO. He was in the ministry for over 25 years. In the 1950s, he served as pastor of King’s Creek Chapel in Wierton, WV; in the 1960s at Wellsboro Bible Church in Wellsboro, PA; and in the 1970s at Snyder Hill Baptist Church in Ithaca, NY. He continued to preach the Gospel until he went home to be with the Lord.

In addition to serving as pastor, Melvin’s career took various paths. In his younger years, he worked in the plumbing and heating trade. Later, he opened Precision Upholstery in Lansing, NY, and served the community with his upholstery talent for over 20 years. In the 2000s, he worked as a chef at Ukrops Café Grill in Richmond, VA.

In his free time, Melvin enjoyed hunting, fishing, vegetable gardening, and NASCAR. He was an accomplished poet, having one of his poems published in a collection at the Library of Congress. He was always optimistic and positive, and he exhibited his great love for life, family, and the Lord.

Melvin is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Ilonka Negley (née Warner); children, Randy Negley, Lorene (Herb) Ley, Darrell (Robin) Negley, James Ciaschi III, and Tammy (Jakub) Rozga; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind his siblings, Vera Mock, Betty Johnson, and Jean Zucchelli; many nieces and nephews; and former wife, Dorothy Jones Negley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Dixie Addy Negley; and siblings, Mansel Negley, Mildred Morgan, Luella Lindsey, Doris Coffman, Dorothy McMillen, and Merle Negley.

A memorial service celebrating Melvin’s life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at Lansing Funeral Home, 32 Auburn Road, Lansing, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Melvin’s name may be directed to Cayuga Medical Center, with support directed to Urology.