Mel Bugg

Mel Bugg,

Born in San Pedro, CA on July 11th, 1943 and raised in Lynwood, CA. He passed peacefully on June 29, 2026 in Grants Pass, OR.

Avid Hot Rodder, Junkman, and lover of people. Always on the hustle, he brought light to anyone he met. Mel volunteered for countless charities and civic events as Santa Claus. His great joys in life were spending time with his family, turning junk into something useful, selling oddities, and, later, concessions at open air events. A veteran of the United States Navy, he served as a Sea Bee in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. As a teenager, he worked for Geroge Barris Customs and continued to be active in car culture his entire life. Everything that he did, he did with passion. After his divorce from his first wife, Nicole, he was a single father for several years until he met the love of his life, Dona Nelson Bugg. The life they built together was beautiful, full of vibrance, family, community, and all the friendships they made along the way. He will be greatly missed by his wife Dona Nelson Bugg, his two sons Noah and Damian Bugg, and his many grand and great grandchildren.

Please share a memory of Mel in his Guestbook.