Rowland Henry Amelon, 90, son of Carl and Lydia Ritz Amelon, was born July 8, 1917, at Wellman, Iowa. He died March 14, 2008, after a short illness.
He graduated from high school in 1936 and was attending the University of Missouri-Columbia when he was called into the Army Veterinary Corps, stationed in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. He completed his bachelor’s of science in agriculture in 1943 while overseas.
After the war, he taught agriculture courses to veterans at Walnut Grove and met his future wife, Betty Crighton. He was called back in the Army Veterinary Corps during the Korean War.
After his discharge, he and Betty were married. He managed a feed mill at Lockwood. The Amelons had two sons.
After several years in the animal feed industry, he purchased McCaskill Milling Co. at Houston in 1959.
Mr. Amelon was active in the community during the next 48 years. He served as mayor from 1977 to ’81, was a member of the Houston Schools board of education, president of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, Texas County Habitat for Humanity, Houston Housing Inc. and a leader of 4-H activities.
At the United Methodist Church in Houston he served in every position possible except as a choir member. He met future leaders of Houston while holding them on his lap as Santa Claus for more than 40 years. He contributed more than 3,000 hours as a Texas County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteer.
Mr. Amelon’s passion in life were his family and animal nutrition, feeds and forage systems. He worked tirelessly to promote conservation improvements by operating a custom milling and feed blending business, serving on the Resource Conservation and Development Council for more than 40 years. He was also a member of the Ozarks Grassland and Texas County Extension councils.
He retired from the animal feed industry in 1989 but remained active in promoting animal nutrition and forage systems.
His hobbies focused on nutrition as he spent hours in his garden growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. He started his varieties from seeds he would carry over from year to year. He loved sharing the produce he grew with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruth Cadwell; and one brother, Donald.
Surviving are his wife; sons, Richard Amelon of Virginia Beach, Va., and Joe Amelon of Ashland; two brothers, Maynard Amelon of Palm Desert, Calif., and Lawrence Amelon of Paris, Mo.; and two granddaughters.
Services were March 17 at the United Methodist Church in Houston with the Rev. Tom Thomlinson officiating. Burial was in the Hazelwood Cemetery at Springfield with the Rev. Bob Moger officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Heifer Project International through the United Methodist Church, 422 Hawthorn, Houston, Mo. 65483.
