ROUTT, Melvin William, known to his friends and associates as “Mel”, entered peacefully into eternal rest on August 15th, 2019. He was 83. Born in 1935 and raised in Tampa, Florida he finished school and enlisted in the US Air Force, serving from 1954-1958. Mel was happily married to Leticia Policarpio before she passed away in 2015.
He worked for many years with GE/Instrument Transformers, Inc. in Clearwater, FL as a manufacturing manager. Mel was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic church, a contributor and member of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a contributor to the Vedanta (Hindu) Center of St. Petersburg, a participant of the Tampa Bay Area Focolare and several other community religious groups of all faiths.
Mr. Routt’s community service activities have included membership and numerous chairs of office in the Safety Harbor Jaycees, the Florida Jaycees, the state and US Junior Chamber of International Senate Executive Committees.
Mel served on active duty with the USAF, USMC Reserves and the USAF inactive reserves. He is a proud member of the Turner Brandon American Legion Post number 7 in Clearwater Florida.
He leaves behind a loving family including his son Kristofer Erston Routt; daughter Katherine Elise (Patrick) Hanrahan; grandchildren Matthew, Samantha and Kelly Melise. His extended family survivors include his step children Lorraine (Arman) Dungog, Rosalie (Alberto) Calo, Florentino (Tita) dela Pena, Alvin (Neneng) dela Pena, Rene (Lovell) dela Pena, and Antonio (Flor) dela Pena.
Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church (1955 S. Belcher Rd, Clearwater, 33764) at 11:00am. Family will receive family and guests beginning at 10:00am. Mel will be interred with full military honors at Florida National Cemetery at 2:00pm.
