Melvin E. Raid
Born: March 21st, 1917
Died: May 14th, 2009
Obituary
Melvin E. Raid, 92, of Burlington, died at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. Born March 21, 1917, in rural Lee County, IA, he was the son of Harve John and Clara Emma Koller Raid. On May 3, 1941, he married Bonadelle Fullerton in Versailles, Missouri. They celebrated 68 years together. Mel was a 1934 graduate of Donnellson High School, Donnellson, IA, and received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Parsons College in 1939. He taught school and served as Superintendent of Schools, and was the boys' basketball coach at Pulaski High School in Pulaski, IA. He did graduate work at the University of Iowa, studied radar at St. Louis University, Harvard University and MIT while serving in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1945 during World War II. He and his brothers, Howard, Arlo, and Wilton, started in the rock crushing business in 1946 as Raid Brothers Construction Company. The business ultimately became Raid Quarries Corp., with operations in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana. He served as President of Medusa Aggregates and Vice President of Medusa Corporation of Cleveland, OH. Mel was past President of the National Limestone Producers, Iowa Limestone Producers, National Limestone Institute, and served on the Board of Directors of the Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust for 39 years. He was President of the Burlington Golf Club in 1980, past Vice President of BADCO, and served on the board of the YMCA. He was a longtime member of the YMCA/YWCA Endowment Committee, and an I-Club member. He was an avid golfer and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He loved spending time at his farm and timber in Van Buren County. Survivors include his wife, Bonadelle, of Burlington; three daughters, Connie (Bob) Martin of Burlington, Mary Raid of West Burlington, and Marlene Raid of Burlington; one son, Mel (Jolene) Raid, Jr. of Granbury, TX; ten grandchildren, Cherie (Hal) Reid, Steven Martin, Beth (David) Edwards, Tricia (Randy) Bolton, Eric (Jen) D'Souza, Geoff D'Souza, Nicole (Brent) Pilgrim, Kathleen (Peter) Miller-King, Jessica Raid, and Meghan (Kevin) Ewinger; and ten great-grandchildren, Stacy and Christopher Martin, Emma Bolton, Ryan, Andrea and Daniel Edwards, Lauryn and Allison Pilgrim, Jack and Alex D'Souza; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Raid Harrison, his parents, three brothers, and one sister. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the Hass-Thielen Funeral Home. The funeral service for Mr. Raid will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2009, at the Grace United Methodist Church, with Rev. Trevor Davis officiating. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America. It would be an honor to have family and friends plant a tree in his memory.