Milton C. "Mel" Short, age 79, of Bluffton, passed away Sunday afternoon, Aug. 30, 2020, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Mel was born in Adams County on June 30, 1941, to Cecil J. and Helen N. (Myers) Short.  He married Shirley A. Settle in Ossian on Feb. 25, 1961; she survives.

A 1959 graduate of Liberty Center High School, Mel worked as a meat-cutter for Kroger for 40 years, retiring in 2002.  After retiring from Kroger, he worked part-time for Ossian Meats and Troyer's Market.  Mel attended Murray Missionary Church, and in his spare time, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and attending his grandchildren's sporting events.

In addition to his wife, Mel is survived by a daughter, Laura (Mike) Nelson of Bluffton; a son, Gary (Kelly) Short of Markle; a brother, Harvey Short of Indianapolis; four grandchildren, Ashley (Conor) Jackson, Jennifer (Michael) Schaffner, Nicole (Jordon) Knox, and Justin (Jessica) Short; and two great-grandchildren, Isobel Jackson and Mia Knox.

Aside from his parents, Mel was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Short.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, from 4:00 until 8:00 PM, at Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.  Services will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at 11:00 AM, at Murray Missionary Church, with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church.  Pastor Mike Gilbert will officiate.  Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Services of NE Indiana.