Melvin B. Waks

Mr. Melvin Bernard Waks, of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, formerly a long time South Bend, resident passed away Thursday at the South Bend Hospice House.
He was born in Roxbury, MA on January 25, 1928 to the late Rebecca (Solovey) and Anchell David Waks. On August 30, 1953 in South Bend, he married the love of his life, Shirley Babbette (Brown) “Babs” Waks who survives at their home in Holy Cross Village. Their love brought three children into the world, two sons: Anchell D. (Peggy) Waks of Columbus OH, and Mark (Andi) Waks of Long Beach, CA; and their daughter, Robyn (Dan) Weisenbach of Carmel, IN. Also left to cherish his memory are seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Mr. Waks graduated with a BA from Northeastern University. He enlisted at the age of 17, with his father’s permission, in the US Navy during WWII and served on the aircraft carrier Salerno Bay in the Pacific Theater in 1945 during the height of the war. Mel liked to walk and to be with his family.
Melvin had a long career as an entrepreneur owning and managing a number of businesses including: Custom Gear, Avionix, Bicycle Center, Fasteners, Inc, before his retirement in 1981. Mel was a volunteer for SCORE for 30 years.
Funeral services will be Sunday at 10:00am at Sinai Synagogue at the corner of East LaSalle Ave. and Eddy St. with Rabbi Michael Friedland, officiating. Burial will follow in the Hebrew Orthodox Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Memorial donations may be made to Sinai Synagogue or The Jewish Federation.