Dr. Clarence Melvin Reitnour (Mel)

Dr. Clarence Melvin Reitnour (Mel), 87, of Oxford, PA passed away Wednesday, February 17th surrounded by his family at Chester County Hospital, West Chester, PA

Born in Spring City, PA, he was the son of the late Harry James, Sr., and Sarah Christman, step-son of Paul Miller, and the husband of Shirley Steely Reitnour, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.

Mel graduated from Spring City High school in 1951, then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Penn State University as a member of the Delta Theta Sigma agricultural fraternity in 1959 and both Master’s and PhD from the University of Kentucky in 1962 and 1968.

Mel met Shirley in Lexington, KY in 1968 and the two were married in Corbin, KY in 1969. He joined the College of Agriculture at the University of Delaware in 1968, where he would spend 34 years leading an equine science program as a professor and equine nutritionist. Mel and Shirley moved to the Oxford area in 1971 and purchased their farm near Nottingham, PA, where they raised beef cattle and sold hay to many local horse and cattle owners.

Mel’s interests included farming, whitetail deer hunting, sports, especially UK basketball and Penn State football, and management of a hunting and farming property in Westfield, PA.

Mel is survived by his wife, son Christopher (Danielle) of West Chester, PA, two grandchildren, Avery and Chase, his brother Douglas Reitnour (Debra) of Luray, Virginia, six nieces and nephews and many close friends and family. He was predeceased by his brother, Harry James Reitnour, Jr.

A visitation for friends and family will be held at 10 am Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford PA. A short service and interment will follow at the Oxford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the following organizations:

University of Kentucky Equine Science and Management Scholarship Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership American Heart Association The Frontline Families Fund On-line condolences may be made at www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com