Melvin Frank Spilker

Melvin Frank Spilker 89, loving husband, father grandfather and great grandfather passed away peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday June 18, 2021

Melvin (Mel) was born September 24, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Henry and Alice (Weiss) Spilker, he was the oldest son of six children. Mel married the love of his life Christa Dorthea Schmelter in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 22, 1956, later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Mel and Chris would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this month.

Mel delivered the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper in the bitter winters of 1948 and 49. He graduated from South High School in 1949. Mel worked for the Salt Lake Tribune in the “Morgue” looking up information and data as needed. Mel was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean conflict in 1951 where he served in Germany and France. Mel’s career was delivering mail for the United States Postal Service for 36 years. Even with his Alzheimer’s he could still remember many names and addresses of people he served on a daily basis. After his retirement he worked for the Newspaper Agency Corp for 15 years.

Mel has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as a counselor in the Escalante Senior Care Branch Presidency for many years. He was a temple worker, ward clerk for seven bishops and served a mission in the locator department of the church.

Mel enjoyed buying and selling cars. Many a time he would come home with a car he bought that needed a little work and would fix it up and sell it to make a few extra bucks. Mel loved the Mills Brothers music, camping, fishing, hunting and just being with his family. He was a Utah Jazz season ticket holder for over 30 years.

Mel and his three brothers loved to spend time rough housing and playing knuckles or hand slap.
When family came to visit, he would bring out the shocking devise (transformer, batteries, vise grip and wire), those brave enough to endure the shocking would hold hands and feel the shock wave go through each other. The winner was the one who could endure the shocking the longest. Mel was always the winner, he loved teasing and playing this especially with his children and grandchildren.

“Dad taught us never to give up or quit.” He had patience and unconditional love for all. He taught his children to work hard, to serve others and to always leave the places they visited, especially the outdoors, better than when they got there.

All throughout his school years Mel and his families last name was Hollinderbaumer (the name of a tree farm in Germany), Because of some inconsistencies with the name a genealogist was hired to research the actual last name and spelling. Around the time Mel was in high school the genealogist discovered the last name was Spilker, so the family changed their last name from Hollinderbaumer to Spilker.

Survived by his wife Christa, his children Byron (Deon) Spilker, Linda (Johann) Defa, Randall (Michelle) Spilker , 14 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, brothers Ray (Janet) Spilker, Don (Renee) Spilker, Frank (Kathy) Spilker and brother in-law Richard Fellows. Proceeded in death by his parents Henry and Alice Spilker and two sisters, Elva Caldwell and Ellen Fellows and a grandson Joshua Spilker.

“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather
openings where our father shines down to let us know he is happy”.

A viewing will be held on Thursday June 24, 2021 from 6:00 -8:00 pm at the Rose Park North State Center (north side, social hall) 1155 North 1200 West (Boy Scout Drive), Salt Lake City

Funeral services will be held on Friday June 25, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Rose Park North State Center (north side) preceded by a public viewing from 9:30 -10:30am.

Melvin will be laid to rest in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Ave and N Street.

Those unable to attend the services in person and would like to participate can do so by watching a live broadcast on Russon Brothers Facebook page and Melvin’s obituary on this website.