Melvin Merritt Spence, Virginia Beach, VA, died Saturday, June 28, 2014 in Virginia Beach after a lengthy illness. He was the eldest of three children born to Jewel Merritt and Raymond Boykin Spence.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth W. (Betsy) Spence and his sisters, Shirley and her husband, Dr. Edwin Spencer, Dorothy and her husband, Ronald Dederick; a niece, Cynthia Adkins and her husband, Claude; nephew, Kenneth Dederick; great nephew, Tyler Dederick and great niece, Caitlyn Stroili; brothers-in-law, J.K. Liddle, Jr., Galax, VA, Charles A. Winesett, Pinnacle, NC,; sisters in- law & brother-in-law, Norma W. & Robert Dean Higgins, Galax, VA; Edie W. Swaim, Kingsport, TN.
Mel graduated from Maury High School in 1945. After serving in the Navy reserve, stationed in the Phillipines, he entered Virginia Polytechnic Institute and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1950.

Following employment with an Architectural firm and the Naval Facilities Command Naval Base, Norfolk, VA, Mel founded the firm of Melvin M. Spence and Associates, Architects in 1956. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects, A.I.A. and The National Panel of American Arbitration Associations. Mel was certified as a value engineer by the General Services Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency and completed a marketing course at Harvard University. He held registration in Virginia and North Carolina.
For over thirty-five years, he had an interesting and varied practice. He designed the Virginia Beach Correction Center, phase one and phase two, Great Bridge High School, Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake; a plant for the Corporate Headquarters for Planter's Peanuts in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was also responsible for designing over forty churches, twenty-two automobile dealerships and a variety of banks and other buildings.

He was a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and former Chairman of the Second District Republican Party. He served as chairman of the Bush/Quayle Campaign in the 82nd District and was an elector for the president and Vice President in 1986. In 1984, he was appointed by Governor Allen to the Conservation and Recreation Board and was reappointed for a second term by Governor Gilmore in 1998. He was appointed to the Chesapeake Bay Tunnel Commission in 1996. He formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Beach Maritime Historical Museum; the Virginia Beach Orchestral Association, the Virginia Beach Chamber of commerce; Board of Trustees for Humana Hospital Bayside, President of the Linlier Civic League; Chairman of the 1986 Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, a former director of the First Virginia Bank Board; Virginia Beach Orchestra Board; The Virginia Beach Maritine Historical Museum Board; Humana Bayside Hospital Board; The Sugar Plum Bakery Board and Board of Trustees of the Harbor Club; He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Princess Anne Country Club. Mel's pastimes included hunting, fishing, boating and traveling to many countrys with his wife, Betsy.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, July 12 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 300 Thirty Sixth Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 or the Virginia Beach SPCA, 3040 Holland Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.

THE ABOVE IS A COURTESY ANNOUNCEMENT OF VAUGHAN GUYNN FUNERAL HOME, GALAX, VA.