Melvin R. Voran

Melvin Voran, 92, of Goshen, was born December 25, 1928 to David and Mary (Billau) Voran in Hesston Kansas.

He died on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 after a long satisfying life of service to others.  Preceding him in death were his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Wileta and Walter Tieszen of Wichita Kansas.

After graduating High School from Hesston Academy, Melvin spent several years working on the Kansas family farm.  In order to fulfill his Selective Service Draft requirement, he served with the Mennonite Central Committee in Gulfport. Mississippi, where he worked for two years in community outreach projects.

On August 19, 1956 he married Marilyn Helmuth of Aurora, Ohio. They settled in Goshen where he graduated from Goshen College with a BS in Elementary education, and later with an MA in Education from Western Michigan University.  After his retirement from teaching in the Elkhart Community Schools System, he enjoyed part-time work as a grounds keeper at the Greencroft Goshen Retirement Center.  He also found time to grow a large vegetable garden each summer from which he shared surplus produce.

As a member of the Goshen Woodworkers Guild, he pursued his interest in woodworking and made numerous pieces of fine furniture for his children and also to donate to auctions for charitable organizations.  Melvin enjoyed travel, taking his family to different National Parks and other scenic areas of our country during summer vacations, as well as joining tour groups exploring Europe and the British Isles.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Marilyn, and their three children: Miriam (Andrew Faunce) Voran of West Lebanon, New Hampshire, Stephen (Gwen Grasse) Voran of Boulder, Colorado and Laurel (David Diller) Voran of Empire, Michigan, and one granddaughter, Elleanna Voran of Boulder, Colorado.

Melvin was a member of College Mennonite Church.  A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, August 9th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at College Mennonite Church.  Masks are required.  The service will also be live-streamed at https://boxcast.tv/channel/n12gpk18euckrb3gcgs4 .

Memorials may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, https://mcc.org/ or College Mennonite Church, www.collegemennonite.org.