George Charles Melahn

George was born on November 7, 1924, in Queens, New York, the son of Joseph Melahn and Josephine Moehringer. Despite the hardships of the Great Depression, George had a happy childhood growing up in a large family in Far Rockaway, NY.

During World War II, George and his twin brother, Joseph, joined the 82nd Airborne Division and served honorably in the same squad as paratroopers, seeing combat in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. George was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star while his twin was tragically killed in action in the Huertgen Forest, receiving the Silver Star.

Returning from Europe, George attended Villanova University, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He joined IBM in 1950 and spent 38 years designing computers from mainframes to PC's. After his retirement, George spent many happy days in his beautiful garden and demonstrated his artistic side with skilled wildlife carvings and works of stained glass.

He was also preceded in death by his son Joseph, as well as brother Thomas, brother Charles and sister Frances. He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dolores, of Fuquay Varina, NC, son Kevin and wife Deborah of Sparks, NV, son Gregory and wife Susan of Apex, NC, son Michael and wife Pamela of Kingston, NY, daughter Karen Carlson and husband Jon of Susanville, CA, a sister, Rita, of Cape Cod, MA, sister-in-law Kita, of Searsport, Maine, grandson SSGT Derek Kennedy of Fort Carson, CO, granddaughter Lora of Ashlund, Oregon, grandson Christopher of Kingston, NY, granddaughter Andrea of Raleigh, NC, grandson George of California, grandson William of Kingston, NY, granddaughter Alexandra of Apex, NC and granddaughters Abigail and Olivia of Susanville, CA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at Saint Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church in Apex, NC. George will be reunited with his twin with a burial in Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY.

The family asks that donations be made to the Smile Train, http://www.smiletrain.org, to provide children in developing countries with cleft lip and cleft palate surgery.