Aug. 26, 1933-Feb. 25, 2018
Service: At a later date in Springfield Veterans Cemetery.
Francis Merrill “Mel” Stoddard, 84, died Sunday, Feb. 25. He was born the eldest son of William A. Stoddard and Mildred C. McClain in Auburn, Nebraska.
He spent his childhood growing up on the family farm, and joined the United States Air Force Jan 12, 1952, retiring after serving 20 years. He served as a laboratory technician and research analyst, serving in locations around the globe, most notably studying the physiological effects of space travel and the G-force stresses in the development of the next-generation ejection seat while stationed at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
He married Marilyn Gates June 8, 1952, and they had six children. They later divorced after 20 years of marriage.
He married Lee Chong Cha Dec. 1, 1972, and they had two children. After retiring from the Air Force, they both worked various jobs until eventually opening a successful family restaurant in Stockton. Upon retiring in 2012, they both settled in Layton, Utah.
Survivors include three sons, Gene Stoddard of Lincoln, Nebraska, Merrill Stoddard and wife Danielle of Kaysville, Utah and Larry Stoddard of Eureka; and two daughters, Sandy Studnicka of Lincoln, Nebraska and Deb Kaemmrung and husband Herman of Lincoln, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Bob Stoddard of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Charlotte Stephenson and Sherry Enke, both of Nebraska City, Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jim Stoddard and Gary Stoddard; and three infant children, Mary Susan and unnamed twin daughters.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary.
