Melville L. Correa

MELVILLE (MEL) L. CORREA, 1932-2025

Mel Correa passed away October 7, 2025 on his 93rd birthday. He was a committed husband and father with a strong work ethic which he passed on to his children. He loved his golf and was good at it. He was also a talented cook, as friends who attended their parties and card games could attest.

Mel was born in 1932 in Kapa’a, Kaua’i to Floretta (Baptiste) and Marcellino Correa. He grew up in Honolulu and had vivid memories of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. He graduated from St. Louis School in 1950 and served three years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was discharged in Riverside, California where he met and fell in love with Rita Wulf, who he married in 1956. He pursued business education while working part time as a shoe salesman at Sears, a job he built into a 35-year career in retail management. He and Rita had six children born in four cities as he was transferred for job promotions.

Mel and Rita retired in 1993 to Sun Lakes, Arizona where golf occupied much of his days. He spent years there volunteering for St. Steven’s Catholic Church, the homeowners association, and his golf club.

Mel is preceded in death by Rita, his wife of 63 years, and by his sister Floretta Nunes. He is survived by his children Deborah (Mark Wilson), Keith, Sheila Thompson (Steve), Matthew, Mark, and John, his brother Earl Patrick (Patty), and many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Services will be held November 18, 2025 at 10:00am at St. Steven’s Catholic Church in Sun Lakes; Interment with military honors at 1:30pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.