Melvin Willoughby, age 84, died unexpectedly at his home, Monday morning, September 28, 2026, and immediately entered the presence of his Savior. He was a son of the late John Ashley “Jack” and Alice Clyde Parrish Willoughby and was preceded in death by 10 of his siblings. Melvin was a retired Quality Auditor with Nortel Networks and was a charter member of Trinity Baptist Church near Rosewood, where he served as a Deacon and physically helped to build the church building. He served on the Board of Directors for the Princeton Fire Department for more than 20 years and was a proud US Army veteran. Melvin was also a member of the Pine Level V.F.W. post 405.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Parrish Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel with Pastors, Rev. Justin Payton and the Rev. Duane Rush officiating. Burial will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. in the cemetery at Grace Baptist Church in Princeton.

Surviving is his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou Edwards Willoughby; sons Melvin Willoughby, Jr. of Dulles, VA and Todd Willoughby and his fiancée Meghan Wallace of Princeton; daughter, Amy Willoughby of Pikeville; sisters, Adele Snead of Ft Meade, FL, Faye Strickland and twin sisters, Brenda Holland and Linda Bailey of Princeton; brother-in-law Leo Edwards, Jr. and his wife Pam and sister-in-law, Judy Dorsey. He is also survived by his faithful grand-dogs Winston and Charlotte.

Flowers are welcome and will be appreciated or memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Missions Program, 136 Aulander Dr., Goldsboro, NC 27530.