Melvin Howard Bostic, son of the late Benjamin Howard Bostic and Mary Catherine Knuckles Bostic, was born on January 19, 1921 in Zalma, Missouri and departed this life on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at Bloomfield Living Center in Bloomfield, Missouri at the age of 98 years.

Mr. Bostic was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in World War II.  He was a former self-employed sewing machine engineer, farmer and factory worker.

He is survived by six sons, Ivan H. Bostic and wife Tanya of Bloomfield, Missouri, Clyde R. Bostic of Springfield, Missouri, Jim D. Bostic and wife Mary of Flint, Michigan, Wayne Bostic of Bloomfield, Missouri, and Ron Bostic and wife Regina of Kentucky; by two daughters, Betty Gaddis and husband Slim of Delta, Missouri, Pauline Gilder of Perkins, Missouri; by twenty-four grandchildren and fifty-five great-grandchildren. 

Other than by his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Mathew Bostic; by his daughter, Jeannie Kay Bostic; by five brothers, Hubert Bostic, Floyd Bostic, Cecil Bostic, Elmer Bostic and Julius Bostic; by four sisters, Silva Hunter, Hazel Davis, Cletta Carver, Imogene McCulley.

A memorial service will be conducted at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.