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Melvin E. (DeBord) Hendershot of Windsor Locks passed away on Monday, March 13, 2017, with his loving family by his side. He was the husband of Bernadette M. Hendershot. Melvin was born on June 6, 1925, in Princeton, Indiana and adopted by Mary (Beck) Hendershot and her husband Harvey. Melvin proudly served in the US Coast Guard with the US amphibious force for 2 ½ years aboard the USS Joseph T. Dickman. Mel served during the invasion of Normandy on his 19th birthday and in the invasion of Southern France. While stationed at the Coast Guard station at Popham Beach Maine, he met the love of his life, Bea, who he was married to for over 70 years. Mel was a proud union electrician and wired many CT landmarks including the Hartford Civic Center, St. Joseph’s College, and many other schools and churches. He retired from the IBEW Local 35 and had been a member for 67 years. He was a charter member and faithful parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Church. Mel was a 3rd Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus Riverside Council 26 for over 67 years and Three year Trustee with Riverside Council. He took up golf when he retired and it became one of his greatest passions. Known as Mr. Airways, Mel leaves behind his beloved friends at Airways Golf Course, whom he treasured deeply. The tenth hole treated him especially well, where he made three holes-in-one. He loved music, seafood, and was an avid UCONN basketball and Boston Red Sox fan. Special thanks also to the American Warrior project, and especially to Bill Birks who accompanied Mel on his visit to Washington DC to view the World War II monument.Besides his wife, Mel is survived by his daughters Lennie Schultz, Rhonda Roe and her husband Dave, and Michelle Merrigan and her husband Gary. He is also survived by six grandchildren Dana and David Visconti, Alicia Melillo, Denise Bailey, and Daniel and David Merrigan. Mel is further survived by eight great-grandchildren Mel was predeceased by five siblings, Viola DeBord, Helen Irene Debord, his twin sister Mildred Dyson, Eunice Holzman, and Earl DeBord. Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family during visiting hours on Friday, March 17, 2017, from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring Street, Windsor Locks. A funeral procession will gather on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the funeral home at 9 am for a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 52 South Elm St., Windsor Locks. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Mel may be made to St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 52 So. Elm St., Windsor Locks, CT 06096. For online expressions of sympathy or directions please visit www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com.

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