Port Hueneme
James Melvin “Mel” Thrasher, 76, died of natural causes on Saturday, May 31, 2003, at his home in Port Hueneme.
Mel was born in San Fernando on June 16, 1927, the son of Virgil and Alice Thrasher. He joined the United States Navy immediately after graduating from Burbank High School in 1945. He served as a machinist’s mate on board the YMS 349, a 137-foot wooden minesweeper, surviving both Typhoon Louise and the mine clearing of Kobe Harbor, Japan. Upon his discharge in 1946, he married Joyce Whittington of Los Angeles. He spent his entire working career at the Andrew Jergens Company’s Burbank plant, originally as a mechanic and retiring as production manager. After his retirement, he sailed extensively from the sea of Cortez to Canada’s Inland Passage on board the 40-foot sloop Rejoyce.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce Thrasher; children, Kathleen Sue Thrasher of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Charles Thrasher of Kingston, Washington, and William Thrasher of Monrovia, California; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, at South Coast Fellowship Church, 4050 Market Street, Ventura. Rather than flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the South Coast Fellowship Youth Center.
Ventura County Star, Ventura, California, Friday, June 6, 2003
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