BRUNSWICK – Franklin R. Melville, 88, of Oak Grove Avenue, Bath, died Saturday, Sept. 30, at Mid Coast Senior Health Care Center in Brunswick.

He was born in Bath on April 25, 1918, a son of George F. and Ruby Wallace Melville and was educated in the Bath schools.

He worked at the shipyard in Quincy, Mass., prior to entering the U. S. Army and serving as a Staff Sgt. during World War II.

After his military service, he worked at Belfast Shoe Factory and later at United Shoe in Auburn. While at United Shoe, he spent a year helping to develop its plant in Puerto Rico.

He also owned and operated Melville’s Grocery in Kentucky before returning to Maine. Following his retirement, he worked for Orville Ranger as maintenance person.

On May 4, 1978, he married Ada Scaggs.

He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, working with wood and carpentry, dancing, and was a music enthusiast, playing both the guitar and harmonica.

Surviving are his wife of 28 years; a son, Randy, and his wife, Vicki, of Greene; two daughters, Susan F. and her husband, Mike Janosco, of Sabattus, and Dawn M. and her husband, Roger Roberts, of Morrill; four stepsons, Michael T. and his wife, Susan Cunio, of Floyds Knobs, Ind., Paul E. and his wife, Susan Cunio, of Bath, Stephen J. and his wife, Paula Cunio, of Titusville, Fla., and Bruce Cunio of Harpswell; three stepdaughters, Theresa R. Cunio of Waterville, Grace C. Brown of Kentucky, and Alice M. and her husband, Robert Brown, of Fredericksburg, Va.; a brother, Alfred Melville of Brunswick; eight grandchildren; 20 step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Ellsworth Darling and Horace Melville; and a sister, Lillian Dube.