Let’s Remember Melvin!
"Space, The Final Frontier...These are the Voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It’s Five Year Mission is to explore Strange New Worlds, to seek out New Life, New Civilizations, to boldly go where no Man has gone before."
There’s Melvin enjoying one of his favorite T.V. Programs. Melvin was a genius and some mignt say a Bon-a-fide- before-its-Time Geek". We say “Geek” lovingly, because Geeks find inspiration in shows like; Star Trek, Star Wars, The Information Super Highways, Computers, The Internet, Cyberspace, The World Wide Web. In fact, all of those "Strange New Worlds” and Melvin was constantly inspired by these things.
As we remember Melvin, we go back to July 26, 1949, in El Centro, California, where Jo Faye Cobb and Mose Melvin Cobb Sr. celebrated the birth of their first of eight children, whom they named Mose Melvin Cobb, Jr. Melvin was fond of his middle name, because he felt the name Melvin meant “Friend” and legally changed his name to Melvin Mose Cobb Jr. He was also was known as "Van" to his parents, brothers, sister, aunts and uncles and cousins.
During Melvin's younger years his family lived in El Centro, Hawthorne and Compton. Young Melvin was a thinker, reader, and was always asking questions. He was born "to seek out Knowledge" .
While attending Compton High School, Melvin met and fell in love with his soul mate, Beverly Ann Reynolds. They graduated in 1967, and were married June 22nd, 1968. At their 2007 Class Reunion, they won an award for being married the longest out of their class of '67. In 2007, they celebrated 39 years of love and marriage.
Melvin and Beverly’s "New Life" began with family,going to church and understanding what it meant to be parents. They had two children. The first was a son, Melvin Joseph Cobb. They agreed that their son’s middle name would be Joseph, named after Beverly’s older brother who had been killed in the Vietnam War in 1966. Then there was their daughter, Karen Lynette Cobb who was Daddy’s Girl and that he affectionately called "Termite".
Now here is where Remembering Melvin takes on the Teaching part of him. These two statements must be realized and understood as motivating factors in his life:
1) From the Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:51& 52 - "Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...we shall be changed".
2) From the Dictionary: The definition of Quantum Leap or Quantum Jump - "An abrupt transition (as an electron, an atom or a molecule) from one discrete energy state to another...An abrupt change...sudden increase...dramatic advance...".
Melvin was fascinated with energy, atoms, conservation, and change. Melvin did not Limit God to just this planet but Melvin truly saw God in all of God’s Creations from the largest prehistoric massive creatures to the smallest atom. In his early 20’s, Melvin began studying and working with energy. He was not limited to his employment with Edison or with MTA where he was an Electrical Technician. For many years he was an Independent Electrical Contractor and owned and operated Van Company Electrical Engineering. In this area, he was supported by family and friends, especially John Tuttle, John Rolling, Jerry Allison, Michael Frankel, Uncle Terry Cobb, and of course, his best friend, Terry Baptist who made his dramatic advance years ago.
Melvin was also an Inventor. In 1978, he received his patent for the Energy Trimmer Electrical Conservation Circuit, which Melvin called, E.T.
Melvin, the Master Electrician, the Genius, theThinker was also a Mentor. Some of those he mentored and loved included but not limited to were: Nathan, the son of Terry, Jason, the son of Marion, Andrew, the son of Christine, LaRonda Children, and Mia Hastings, their God Child.
If you were a part of this add your name here
Beverly and Melvin, which was often said as one word "BeverlyandMelvin" were great together. She was the outspoken one, but quick to tell you that Melvin was the "Wind beneath her Wings". Melvin would respond to her questions with, "Bev, whatever makes you happy".
Church, Choir, Family gatherings, cooking, good friends and good conversation made Beverly happy. Melvin literally beamed when she was happy. He, too, loved his family. Melvin was know as "Paw -Paw" to their grandchildren. To watch "Paw-Paw" with his grandchildren was an awesome sight and so touching to behold.
Melvin was so unique. He exemplified Change and Sudden Increase in those one-on-one relationships. When you had your one-on-one time with Melvin, he would be just what you needed him to be. He would be the Talker or the Listener. Sometimes these conversations would go on and on for hours and to be continued... (smile).
Those who have been a part of those sessions but not limited to were Marion, Christine, Mollie, his children, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends. If you were a part of these sessions, add your name here
Finally, on Monday, January 21, 2008, the Federal Holiday to remember the late great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., people were gathering to go to
Prayer Breakfasts, parades, and other activities. In our family, word was spreading that Melvin had fallen and was in Western Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit. While praying, waiting, watching, laughing, crying and talking, we spoke of God’s Goodness and Grace. We spoke of the great family dinner we had the Saturday night before his passing and how grateful we were that we had a wonderful time as a complete family.
On January 23rd , 2008, Melvin took the ultimate
Quantum Leap. And in a "twinkling of an eye" at
1:50pm, Melvin changed from mortality to immortality. Beverly held his hand and sang to him their song..."Nothing you can say can take me away from "My Guy". "Our" Melvin then took that final dramatic
advance. “
Melvin’s Legacy includes his wife, soul mate and business confidant of 40 years, Beverly Ann Cobb of Palmdale; his daughter Karen Lynette Cobb of Riverside; His son, Melvin Joseph Cobb and wife, Ramona and their children Vanessa, Alexander, Payton and Kamryn of Fountain Valley; brothers; Ray, Brian (wife Shirley) & Perry "Ollie" (wife Vicky) Cobb, sister Carol Ann of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mollie Bell, Christine Reynolds, Lorretta Reynolds and Ernest Reynolds (brother and Sister in-laws) , unlces Terry Cobb and L.C. Cobb, and aunts Betty Brooke , Mrs. Juanita Watson of El Centro, Iola Wadsworth and LaRuth Mosley; Godchildren, and a host of extended family and special friends. Since you are, please add your name here
Preceding Melvin in Death were his parents, Mose Melvin Cobb Sr. & Jo Faye Cobb. His brothers, Stanely, Robert and Gregory. His parents-in-law, Ulysses and Luveda Reynolds. His best, friend Terry Baptist.
In September 2006 while at Anolope Valley Hospital he professed Jesus Christ as his personal Savoir. According to Melvin, "Science and God are the same on Change and Quantum Leaps".
1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved now are we, the Sons of God", and it doth not appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him and see Him as He is".
Let’s Remember Melvin!
”The strugle continues and to God be the glory.”
Mollie Bell