Major Melvin D. Irving, Jr., USAF Ret.

Major Melvin D. Irving, Jr., USAF, Ret. age 92, passed away on Monday, August 13, 2018, at his home. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War. Major Irving was born May 26, 1926 in Kosciusko, MS, to Melvin D. Irving, Sr. and Julia Ann Adams Irving. He joined the U.S. Marines in 1945 and served for 8 years in the Second Marine Division, before joining the U.S. Army where he served until his retirement in 1969. He was an active member of the Mississippi Coast Military Officers Association and the Second Marine Division Association as well as a member of the American Legion. He volunteered at Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, and volunteered with the Keesler Retiree Activities Office for over 20 years. Major Irving is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Annie Irving; brothers, Samuel, Eugene, and Zackary Irving; sister, Julie Irving Naef; wife, Barbara Elizabeth; and son, Bruce Douglas Irving. Survivors include his wife, Tatiana Irving; daughter, Leslie Ann Wagner of Gautier, MS; stepson, Dimitri V. Kravtsov of Milford, CT; grandson, Justin Lee Wagner; great-granddaughter, Hazel Remy Mills of Columbus, MS; brother, John Winan Irving of Burnet, Texas; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home Monday, August 20, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., followed by interment with full military honors at the Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, MS at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to French Camp Academy, French Camp, Mississippi 39745.