SARASOTA, Fla. — Melvin E. Horst, 89, of Sarasota, Fla., passed away on Jan. 14, 2018, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
Melvin was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Dalton to Albert C. and Elma (Kornhaus) Horst. He was baptized in 1938 at Martin’s Mennonite Church, Orrville. One of six brothers, he graduated from Dalton High School in 1947, and married Pauline Martin of Columbiana on Sept. 24, 1949, at Leetonia Mennonite Church. A year later they purchased a farm on Lower Elkton Road, Columbiana.
While working at factory and sales jobs for a time, Melvin began farming, and between 1960-65 developed a thriving poultry business. After selling the poultry business in 1982, he purchased a farm on Woodville Road, rented some additional farmland, and continued crop farming during semi-retirement. In 1990, he sold that farm and purchased a home on Firestone Avenue in Columbiana. For many years Melvin and Pauline wintered in Florida.
In 1965, they traveled to Puerto Rico with their daughters. Later trips included Haiti, Europe and trips in the U.S. and Canada. In 1972 and 1980 they traveled to Guatemala and Venezuela to help build church buildings with United World Mission. In 1973 and 1979 they were short-term volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Service in Kentucky and Mississippi. Pauline died on Aug. 20, 2001, after a two-year battle with cancer.
On Nov. 2, 2002, Melvin married Edith Lyndaker from Lowville, N.Y. The couple enjoyed over 15 years together and divided their time between Columbiana and Sarasota. In 2013, they purchased a home in Sarasota, and since then had lived there year-round. During their marriage, Melvin and Edith made several trips to attend family weddings, reunions, and to visit their children and grandchildren in several states.
Melvin made an effort to stay in touch with his many friends and relatives, even in his later years. He was known for his story telling, his sense of humor, and his large and small acts of service and support for the church and people in the communities where he lived.
Surviving are his wife, Edith Horst; and daughters, Joanne (Ralph) Lehman of Wooster, Melva Huebert of Canfield and Karen (Daniel) Cobb of Santa Fe, N.M.; brothers, Raymond Horst of Columbiana and Myron Horst of Orrville. He has eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandsons, as well as five step-children and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Pauline; brothers, Chester, LaVerne and Albert Jr.; and a son-in-law, John Huebert.
Memorial services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Leetonia Mennonite Church, 764 Columbia St., Leetonia, where friends may call between 9-11 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in Midway Mennonite Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Disaster Service, in care of Leetonia Mennonite Church, for rebuilding in Puerto Rico.
Arrangements are being handled by Seederly-Mong & Beck Funeral Home, Columbiana. Online registry and expression of condolence may be made at www.seederly-mongandbeck.com.