Melvin Wade Kellum, son of Johnny Wilbur and Jewell A. (Todd) Kellum, was born May 14, 1960, in Marshfield, Missouri, and died September 8, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was 62 years, 3 months, and 25 days of age.
Melvin married Kelly Rudolph on May 30, 1980, in Diggins, Missouri and to this union one son was born, Joshua.
Melvin attended Seymour schools and worked straight out of high school pouring concrete with his dad. Melvin eventually opened his own concrete company, Kellum Foundations. He was thankful to have his dad helping him in the beginning of his new business and his own son, working side by side, to make it a third-generation family business. Melvin felt very blessed to have three generations, along with a nephew, working together.
Melvin enjoyed visiting people, whether he was visiting a sick friend, grieving friend, or joyful friend, it was important to him to keep a genuine connection with people. He never met a stranger, he even made friends with all the concrete dispatchers and the parts salesmen at the Caterpillar store! He loved playing with his grandchildren, Braylee and Braden and always made lasting memories. His most recently found love was restoring old trucks.
Melvin was preceded in death by his wife, Kelly Kellum, his father, Johnny Kellum, his father-in-law, Gerald Rudolph, a nephew, Jeromy Rudolph, and a brother-in-law, Kevin Rudolph.
He is survived by his son, Joshua Kellum and wife, Chasten of Seymour, Missouri, his mother, Jewell Kellum of Seymour, Missouri, two grandchildren, Braylee and Braden Kellum both of Seymour, Missouri, his mother-in-law, Una Rudolph of Seymour, Missouri, sisters- in- law, Gena (Mike) Cooper and Lessli (Paul) Pruett all of Seymour, Missouri, other relatives and a host of friends who will greatly miss him.
Melvin was a giving person throughout his life on earth and even in his death Melvin gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. His eyes blessed a person with the ability to see for the first time and restored life’s promise for many families. We honor his generous wish; his gift of life was shared with many people.
