Herschel Robert Melton

Herschel Robert Melton, aged 86, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona with loved ones at his side. Born to Herschel Aubrey and Veva Melton on October 20, 1938, in Ada Oklahoma, Herschel led a life marked by his love and dedication to Christ his Lord and Savior, his true love and wife, his wonderful children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Herschel graduated from Midwest City High School in 1957 and then went on to earn a degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1961. He met his love, Coleen in high school and the two were married in 1957, followed by their two oldest children and daughters in 1958 and 1960. The family moved to Sacramento, CA in 1962 and he started working for McDonnell Douglas, a major American aerospace company that designed and built commercial and military aircraft. In 1965, Herschel moved his family to Garden Grove, CA and then in 1967 Herschel and Coleen were blessed with their first son, who would carry-on the Herschel name, being the 3rd. Feeling like their family was not truly complete, they welcomed and were so thankful to the Lord, to be able to adopt a son in 1968 that made them a family of 6.

Herschel would start attending Alameda’s Friends Church in CA which led him to start teaching Monday Night Bible Study with Walt Hoffman. The group of men and woman would later become a church and he with his good friend Walt, pastored the group for many years. In 1976 Herschel took a job with Northup Grumman Corporation, an American multinational aerospace and defense company designing avionics. Then in 1982 he went to work for Wayne Winton at Sparta, a company that did contracting with the Department of Defense. Sparta would then move Herschel and Coleen to Arizona for a contract with Motorolla and he retired from Sparta in 2009.

Herschel is survived by his 2 daughters, 2 sons, 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is proceeded in death by his brother, his parents, and his wife.

Flowers or a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (in memory of Coleen) appreciated.

The family invites attendees back to their home after services for a gathering at: 1881 W. Browning Way, Chandler, AZ, 85286.