Lakeside resident Melvin Howard Wellstead, 72, died in a Guadalajara hospital June 3 after a short illness.

Wellstead was born March 29, 1936 in Toledo, Ohio. He attended public schools in Maumee, Toledo, where he was the captain of his high school basketball team as well as an accomplished musician.

Wellstead was accepted at several colleges but chose Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and his Masters in Business Administration. He continued his music hobby throughout college, playing in the college band as well as the jazz band.

Wellstead started his professional career as a management trainee for the American Can Company, where he was promoted regularly and eventually became the plant manager. He then started and led his own business of foil embossing in Denver, Colorado. He eventually sold the business and moved to Ajijic in the fall of 2002.

A 32-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous, Wellstead was a strong, even life-saving mentor to many other members. He was an avid, even fierce, bridge and cribbage player and a member of the Lakeside Duplicate Bridge Club. Even as his sight diminished, his memory served him well in keeping track of the cards.

Wellstead is survived by his wife Nancy Wellstead of Ajijic, sons Bradford Alexander Wellstead of Portland, Oregon and Gregory Kemp Wellstead of Jacksonville, Florida. He had two stepsons, Brad Parker of Bedford, Texas and Todd Parker of San Diego, California, and a stepdaughter, Dawn Wallace of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

He leaves three grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. at Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church in Riberas del Pilar.