Dr Clyde Melvin Foreman

   Other names for Clyde were Bud and Mel.

   Find a Grave ID: 27443457.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Occupation: Taught Soc at Seattle Pac Univ for 37 years.

2. Obituary. Dr. C. Melvin Foreman April 27, 1920 - November 13, 2006 Mel Foreman lived a full life of teaching, living out God's love for people, and being a great role model to all who knew him.

Dr. Mel, or "Bud" to his friends, was a professor at Seattle Pacific University for nearly 40 years.

Before earning his Ph.D at the University of Washington, he studied at The Biblical Seminary in New York City. He brought into the classroom the heart of an ordained minister and the intellect of a Biblical scholar with a doctorate in Sociology. Voted the Professor of the Year by the students, much beloved as a counselor, mentor and friend, he devoted his life to teaching about a disciplined life and God's love for individual men and women. Selected as Academic Dean of the University, he worked hard to build Seattle Pacific into a top quality university. He was a post doctoral fellow at Yale University in 1970-71. Mel was chosen to travel to Israel as a research fellow in 1962. There he met the leaders of the nation and the Hebrew University. He loved to read and to discuss big ideas. He made an impact on the people he met.

In 1946, he married Sylvia Ahnlund. She was a gifted musician and brought the joy of great music into their home and into the First Free Methodist Church where she served as organist for many years. Together they had three children, Dale, Jan and Jerry. The children were blessed to be born into such a loving family. Sylvia passed away in 1992. Fortunately for Mel, he remarried and found a wonderful wife in Ivanelle "Kay" Kirkpatrick. They had known each other for years and Kay's first husband, Charles, had served as the General Missionary Secretary of the Free Methodist Church. As a widow, used to opening her home to missionaries from many cultures, Kay has a special gift for hospitality. The twelve years she shared with Mel was a happy and productive time. They traveled the world and enjoyed many friends together. She stayed by his side until the very end.

Mel was a Sunday School teacher for most of his life. His class, Homebuilders, began in the 1950's and still goes on today. Many of the members of that class recall the lessons taught and the positive influence Mel had on their lives. Even now, suffering as he did during the last few years, he remained ever the optimist. The wonderful physicians and nurses at Central Washington Hospital, came to know Mel well these last few months. They loved his smile and his spirit. He would not quit life without a fight. He kept living for the Lord until the very morning he was called home.

Mel Foreman is survived by his wife, Kay; three children, Dale and Gail Foreman, Wenatchee, Jan and Bill Thun, Aloha, OR, Jerry and Vicki Foreman, Langley; he has seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brothers, Dr. Kenneth Foreman of Hawaii and Roland Foreman of Corona del Mar, CA.

Memorial Services at Wenatchee Free Methodist Church, 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 18, 2006. Private family Burial will be at Wenatchee City Cemetery prior to the Memorial Service. Visitation at Betts Funeral Service, 302 Ninth Street, Wenatchee on Friday, November 17, 2006, from 3-7 p.m. Donations to Seattle Pacific University Scholarship Fund. Services are under the care of Betts Funeral Service.

3. Obituary: Obituary from Seattle Pacific University, Spring, 2007. C. Melvin "Mel" Foreman '42, professor emeritus and longtime administrator at Seattle Pacific University, died November 13, 2006, at the age of 86. Born in Ohio and raised in Hermon, California, Mel was also an alumnus of Seattle Pacific College, where he sang in the Victory Quartet, participated in clubs such as the Alexandrians, and played as a guard on the men's basketball team.

After graduation from SPC, Mel entered the Biblical Seminary in New York City and earned a master's degree in theology. He returned to Seattle Pacific to become dean of men and enrolled at the University of Washington, where he earned a master's degree and doctorate in sociology.

From 1953 to 1985, Mel served as a popular sociology professor and dedicated administrator at Seattle Pacific. Among the many administrative titles he held during his years at SPU were dean of students, dean of instruction, chapel coordinator, and dean of academic affairs. In 1978, students honored him with the Distinguished Professor of the Year Award.

Says President Philip Eaton, "Mel not only touched the lives of hundreds of students as a professor, but greatly shaped the ongoing academic life of Seattle Pacific." That legacy continues with the C. Melvin Foreman Endowed Scholarship, established in 1985 and awarded annually to "serious-minded and spiritually sensitive students in sociology and anthropology."

Preceded in death by his first wife, Sylvia Ahnlund Foreman '46, Mel lived with his second wife, Ivanelle Kirkpatrick Foreman '60, in Wenatchee, Washington, for the past 14 years. Survivors include Ivanelle; two sons, Dale Foreman '67 and Jerry Foreman '74; one daughter, Jan Foreman Thun '74; seven grandchildren, including Charles Foreman '03, JEANELLE FOREMAN '05, Adrienne Thun Meier '04, and SPU junior ERIKA THUN; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, including retired Falcon track and field coach KEN FOREMAN.

Clyde married Ivanelle Lois Bendorf, daughter of Lewis William Bendorf and Nellie Isabelle Wieland, on 8 Apr 1995 in Seattle, WA. (Ivanelle Lois Bendorf was born on 12 Apr 1929 in Lancaster, WI and died on 17 Feb 2023 in Katy, TX.)

Clyde next married Sylvia M Ahnlund. (Sylvia M Ahnlund was born on 13 Apr 1922, died on 18 Dec 1992 and was buried in Wenatchee, WA, Wenatchee City Cemetery.)