Advertisement. Advertise with us

In Memoriam

Rev. Melvin Farmer, 90

July 13, 1932 – December 22, 2022

Rev. Melvin Farmer

West Davenport – Rev. Melvin Farmer, 90, of West Davenport, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at A.O. Fox Nursing Home.

Melvin was born on July 13, 1932 in Evansville, Indiana, a son of the late Claude and Ethel Farmer.  It was there that he met the love of his life, Bonnie Farmer (Runau).  They were married in Evansville where, together, they helped start the Mill Road Baptist Church.  Mel and Bonnie celebrated 64 years together.

In early 1960’s, the Farmers moved to upstate New York where Mel began his life-long calling into the ministry.  He graduated from Baptist Bible Seminary in 1961.  After residing in several local communities through the years, they settled in West Davenport.

Melvin served as the Pastor of the River street Baptist Church for 43 years before deciding to retire.  During his years as Pastor, and after retirement, Mel continued his ministry of providing gospel music and uplifting spiritual messages through his television and radio programs “Inspiration Time” and “Gospel Hymn Request Time”.  Mel was the founder of the “Angel of Love”, an annual drive which provided free Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas hams to people in need.  The annual drive provided over 100 of each to families in need.

Mel offered a smile to everyone and was always willing to help anyone in need.  Above all, he had a great love for his family and treasured all the time he spent with them.

He is survived by his children, Melody (Bill Leonhardt) Farmer of West Davenport, Lisa (Daniel) Wenck of Fly Creek and Paul (Lisa) Farmer of New Hartford; his six grandchildren, Natalie (Tim), Amanda (Dan), Christopher (Krystal), Colin (Michelle), Noah and Joshua and his 8 great-grandchildren. 

Friends and family may call from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, December 27, at the Lewis Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz Street, Oneonta NY 13820.  Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Judith Thistle officiating.  A private family interment will take place in the spring.

Flowers are appreciated; however, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, a charitable donation in memory of Melvin be made to the Veteran’s Association of America, PO Box 309 Audubon Station, New York, NY 10032-0309, www.vetsaa.org/donation

Melvin’s family thanks the staff of the A.O. Fox Nursing Home for the kind and compassionate care given to Melvin during his time with them. 

Online condolences may be made at, www.lhpfuneralhome.com

Posted

4 Comments

  1. Rip pastor you where the best and tell Bonnie we said hello we will miss you but I know I will see you on the other when god calls me home until then my friend I’ll shall continue gods path

  2. Rip pastor you where the best and tell Bonnie we said hello we will miss you but I know I will see you on the other when god calls me home until then my friend I’ll shall continue gods path

  3. I’m so sorry to hear this. Pastor Farmer was our Pastor. He was a wonderful man. God bless him and his family

  4. I’m so sorry to hear this. Pastor Farmer was our Pastor. He was a wonderful man. God bless him and his family

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

BERKSON: Chickie’s Greatest Gift

LETTER from TERRY BERKSON Chickie’s Greatest Gift When I was 8 years old, the hero in my life was my cousin Chickie, who drove an oil truck and often took me with him on deliveries. The job led him all over Brooklyn and, being somewhat of a scavenger, he often came home with a bike or a wagon or some other discarded contraption he thought would be useful. We lived in Bensonhurst, in a 12-room Victorian that had been divided into apartments. I occupied the second floor with my dad, while Chickie and his wife and two babies lived on…

Free turkey, ham still on the menu for Rev. Mel

Free turkey, ham still on the menu for Rev. Mel Reverend Mel may be retired, but he’s still hard at work. Mel Farmer, 89, a pastor at the River Street Baptist Church in Oneonta, still hosts his radio show and, this time of year, still donates turkeys and hams to those in need through his “Angel of Love” program. “That was a calling from the Lord to become a minister,” he said, reflecting on his 43 years as a pastor. He’s on the radio regularly with his program “Gospel Hymn Request Hour,” heard on WDOS in Onetona, WDLA in Walton,…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.