Melvin L. Rowlands, 75, of 115 Williams Road, Portersville, formerly of Fombell, died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.

Born in Ellwood City, Feb. 16, 1931, he was the son of James L. and Helen M. Sloan Rowlands.

He attended Lincoln High School and had been an electrician and a heating and air conditioning repairman at AT&T and retired in 1984 after 27 years.

Mr. Rowlands was a member of the Lillyville Church of God. He enjoyed singing and was a singer in the gospel groups, The Revelers, In One Accord and the Gospel Joy Belles and Mel, in this area. He was a former member of the Riverside Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife, Waneata Porter Rowlands, whom he married Jan. 2, 2002; two daughters, Deborah Haine of Harmony and Dana Lowers of Fombell; a son, Daryl Rowlands of Perry Township; two stepdaughters, Tammy Sharon of California and LaDawn VanKirk of Portersville; a daughter-in-law; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.

He also is survived by a brother, James Rowlands of Phoenix, Ariz.; and two sisters, Betty Clyde of Zelienople and Lynda Altsman of Fombell.

His first wife, Jean Kaufman Rowlands, whom he married June 10, 1950, died Oct. 25, 1998. A son also preceded him in death.

<B>ROWLANDS</B> — Friends of Melvin L. Rowlands, who died Sunday, June 4, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>Samuel Teolis funeral homE</B>, 309 Spring Ave., Ellwood City. Visitation also will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Lillyville Church of God in Franklin Township, Beaver County, where services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Vincent Snyder, the Rev. Tom Clyde and the Rev. Michael Charles officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.