Melvin Flippin

NEW ELLENTON, SC – MELVIN F. “PAPA FLIP” FLIPPIN, Sr., 64, beloved husband of Shirley Overstreet Flippin, died Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Born in Wilmington, DE, Melvin was a son of the late Hassel Lester and Juanita Moore Flippin. His family moved to New Ellenton when he was 1 year old. He was a veteran of the United States Army with the 59th Land Clearing Company and served 2 tours in Vietnam. After he was discharged from the Army Melvin worked as a police officer for the City of New Ellenton. He joined the New Ellenton Fire Dept in 1971 as a volunteer fire fighter/first responder and served as Chief multiple times through the years. Melvin started working in construction for DuPont at the Savannah River Plant, then worked in patrol. When Westinghouse assumed management he worked as a firefighter and EMT until his retirement. After leaving SRS he worked as an EMT with Rural Metro Ambulance as well as Aiken County EMS. He last worked in security at Bridgestone, retiring in 2005. Melvin loved the outdoors and enjoyed yard work, camping and woodworking. He especially enjoyed “hanging out” in downtown New Ellenton interacting with the community. Survivors, in addition to his wife Shirley, include a daughter, Suzanne F. Moon, New Ellenton; a son, Melvin F. (Arlene) Flippin, Jr., Beech Island; two grandchildren, Lindsey Moon, Carson Flippin; two step-grandchildren, Ashley Moon, Tyler Moon; a sister, Margaret Flippin, Aiken. In addition to his parents, Melvin was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Robert A. Moon. The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 11 o’clock in the morning at Corinth Baptist Church with Chaplain Howard Burgess and Rev. Mike Bell officiating. Interment will follow in Southlawn Cemetery with military honors. Pallbearers will be Johnny Morris, Jamie Crawford, Aaron LeMaster, Garreth Woodward, Mark Cato, Steve Rudd, Harvey Jay and Phil Clarke. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of New Ellenton Fire Dept. and Aiken County EMS. Memorial contributions may be directed to Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to New Ellenton Fire Department, P.O. Box 459, New Ellenton, SC 29809. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 o'clock Friday evening at SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melvin Flippin, please visit our flower store.