Dr. Meliton Novilla

Louisville, Kentucky - Dr. Meliton Novilla, DVM, PhD., DACVP, 87, passed away on September 8, 2025.

Meliton was born in Cauayan, Isabella, Philippines on March 10, 1938, to parents Eulogio Novilla and Cornelia Naparan. He graduated valedictorian from Cauayan High School before attending and graduated as Salutatorian from the University of the Philippines College of Veterinary Medicine in 1963. He was awarded the Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship to attend Colorado State University, where he obtained his Masters and doctorate in Pathology in 1966. He then taught pathology at the University of the Philippines CVM from 1966 – 1975. His family then emigrated to Greenbelt, MD, where he worked at the University of Maryland’s pathology lab from 1975 until 1977.

After passing the ACVP American College of Veterinary Pathologists certification exam and earning a Diplomate, he accepted a position at the Eli Lilly Greenfield Labs, as well as Lilly Indianapolis where he worked from 1977-2009. He and his colleagues Dr. Larry Fisher, Dr. Gries, and Dr. McGrath, oversaw all human/animal drug trials during that time. After his retirement from Eli Lily, he worked at SNBL in Seattle, Washington until his full retirement in 2018. In 2018 he lived with his oldest son until he passed away on Sep 8,2025. He will be missed by family and friends who knew and worked with him.

He is survived by his sons Daniel and Leo; his grandchildren Kari, Niko, Nigel, Nick, and Eli. He is reunited with his loving wife Purita, son Mel Jr., his parents and his siblings Moding, Isauro, Ninit, Nora, and Sling in Heaven.

A visitation will be held at Flanner Buchanan - Washington Park East (10722 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46229) on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 12 pm - 1 pm with memorial services following at 1 pm. Placement will take place at Washington Park East Cemetery following the service.

click here for livestreaming of the service

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Dr. Meliton Novilla to the 

PAVMA Phillippine American Veterinary Medical Association
Dr. Maria Dolly Dalusong, President
15933 Avenal Court
Chino Hills, CA 91709
(909) 539-8111

Please mail donations to the address provided via the United States Postal Service.