Melvin James Dittmar of Quihi, 79, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2019. Born June 17, 1939, in Doss TX, he was the son of Elgin Herman Albert Dittmar and Marie Elizabeth Becker Dittmar. Melvin enjoyed track, football and FFA during his high school years. He helped on the family farm shearing sheep and picking cotton. His hobbies were golf -claiming a "hole-in-one"- and tournament bowling. He also enjoyed country music and dancing, especially with his granddaughters. Following high school, Melvin attended business college, studying accounting. He served in the US Army and Army Reserves for six years while he also worked for Del Monte in Wisconsin and the USDA in Gillespie County and McAllen, TX. During this time he met and married Julia Marie Hartmann of Quihi. Some time later, they returned to Quihi where Melvin worked with his father-in-law, Fritz Hartmann, as a carpenter. Having gained experience working with Fritz, he joined Woody Glasscock at Gallo Construction. After many years and the closing of Gallo, he worked on his own and eventually formed Quihi Construction with Gary Zinsmeyer, constructing many homes in Medina County and beyond. He retired in January 2014. Melvin served on the Church Building Committee and rarely missed a church service until his health began to fail. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Wilfred Dittmar; and in-laws, Fritz and Lorene Hartmann. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Julia "Judy" Dittmar; daughters, Lori (Mark) Lopez of Quihi and Yvonne (John) Hill of Flippin, AR; son, James (Donna) Dittmar of Quihi; grandchildren, Sarah Lorene Hill, Jody Lynn Dittmar and Cody James Dittmar; sisters. Alberta (Kermit) Lochte of San Antonio and Lynette (Robert) Ray of Waco; brother, Nolan (Ellie) Dittmar of Arlington; and sister-in-law, Harriet Dittmar Crenwelge of Fredericksburg. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 21, 5 to 7 p.m., at the Guinn-Horger Chapel. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 22, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Quihi. Interment will follow at Quihi Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 841125, Dallas TX 75284 or Bethlehem Lutheran Church.