Funeral service for Melvin Joe Cerveny will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 16, 2019 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Mike Shklar officiating.

Burial with military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Melvin Joe Cerveny, age 72, of Lawton, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2019 in Lawton.  He was born December 30, 1946 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma to William J. and Emma Lee (Richter) Cerveny.  Following high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps attaining the rank of sergeant and served three tours in Vietnam.  His medals and awards include the Air Medal First Strike/Flight Award, Combat Aircrewman Insignia w/3 bronze stars, Rifle Expert Badge, Navy Unit Commendation w/one bronze star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, RVN Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross Color, Vietnam Service Medal w/one silver star and 3 bronze stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the RVN Campaign Medal w/device.  He then worked as a mechanic for Civil Service.

Melvin was a true patriot who loved his country.  He was a generous, honest and good hearted man who would give you anything he had.  He had an incredible mind and even as a teenager was considered a top-rated mechanic in Lawton.  Melvin played baseball when he was younger and developed a life-long admiration for the game.  He loved his family, friends, fellow VA Center residents and also loved animals.

Survivors include his brother, Tony W. Cerveny and his wife Lynn, Sun City Center, Florida, two sisters Nancy L. Cerveny-Zinno and her husband, Anthony Zinno, Lawton and Lynda M. Cerveny-McFerren and her husband, David McFerren, Norman, Oklahoma, nieces and nephews, Jesse and Miquela Cerveny-Yoder, Stephanie Yoder, Mitchell McFerren and Taylor McFerren, great niece, Jeslyn Lee Cerveny-Yoder, three great nephews, Champ Cerveny-Yoder, Jace Cerveny-Yoder and Adonis Anderson, two aunts, Lillian Hicks and Gerda Richter and four step children, Doris Tumlin, John Farmer, Jr., Kristy Farmer and Emma Lee Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton, Oklahoma 73501.