Charles Robert Melton

Charles Robert Melton, age 72 passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, June 5, 2016. He is now in heaven with the love of his life, his mom, dad, Uncle Charles and this list could go on and on. We know that there was a large party in heaven when he went home.

Charles was born on January 8, 1944 in Upland, California to Clell Melton and Helen Bamford. He graduated from Chaffey High School in 1962. On December 20, 1970 he married Linda Sue Melton and they had two daughters Heather Irene Melton and Jennifer Ruth Melton.

Charles has two siblings, Claudia Severin and Norman Phillips. The most important thing in Charles’s life was his family. At a young age he began to take care of his mother, grandmother and his little brother. He cherished his two daughters and spoiled his granddaughter Harley and grandson Cody.

While Charles was still living in Southern California he managed Pacific drive-in theaters. He liked to bring along his little brother to have him do all the grunt work. When Charles moved to Fresno with his wife and oldest daughter he worked at the Starlight drive-ins, but eventually he changed jobs and for many years he worked as an apartment manager for the Villa Madrid Apartments as well as the Piccadilly Inn Hotel. He worked at the hotel for 35 years before he retired in 2015.

Charles working two jobs allowed him to support his family and make sure they never needed anything and most times it also allowed his children to want for nothing. Even though he was busy with the two jobs he was always able to spend time with his family. Charles’s wife Linda passed away in 1985 and he quickly went from being a dad to being a single dad. He did an amazing job raising his two daughters and made them who they are today. He was hands down the best father, grandfather/papa, brother and friend. His brother Norman D. Phillips recently told his niece Jennifer that if he could be a third of the father that Charles was he would consider himself blessed.

Over the last six weeks when Charles was in this hospital his daughters started hearing all these amazing things that their dad did throughout his life. He would help anyone in need and most often wanted no credit for what he did. His girls always knew how amazing of a dad he was and an amazing person. It was such a blessing and so good for his kids to hear all these amazing things about him during a really difficult time.

Charles made it a point to take his daughters to Disneyland each year. It was something that he looked forward to as much as his kids did. He loved to sit in the park and just watch people he even passed down that habit to his daughter Jennifer. As he got older and the kids grew up his favorite place to visit was Carmel California. He loved that it was a quiet place with so much history and beauty it is the epitome of a small town by the sea which made it an amazing place to spend time.

When Charles retired in 2015 he picked up a hobby of watching golf (a lot of golf). He enjoyed spending time with his daughter Heather cooking and he kept that going with his granddaughter Harley Sue Ellen Campbell. He also enjoyed going to concerts of all kinds with his daughter Jennifer and instilled in her a love for all kinds of music. Jennifer even got him to like football as time went on once she was able to explain how the game works. He always wondered how it is that for golf the cameras can follow the little tiny ball but in football it was hard to keep track of where it was. Charles also enjoyed talking with his grandson Cody Michael Douglas Campbell about video games even if he did not understand the games.

Left to honor Charles and remember his love are Charles two daughters, Heather Melton and Jennifer Melton; his two grandchildren; Harley Campbell and Cody Campbell; his two siblings; Claudia Severin and Norman Phillips; his nieces and nephews; Ben Severin, Andy Severin, Helen Roberts, Taylor Phillips, Brittany Phillips and Spencer Phillips; his cousins; Patti Bamford, Mike Bamford, Charles Bamford, Bobby Bamford and Donna Webb.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents Clell Melton and Helen Bamford; his wife Linda Melton; his Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob, Uncle Charles and many other family members that have already gone to heaven.

Charles’s family would like to thank everyone who has been amazingly supportive through this process. It is greatly appreciated and it helps to know that there are people out there that cared so much about Charles and his family.

There will be a viewing held at Lisle Funeral Home at 1605 L Street Fresno, CA 93721 on Friday June 17th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. There will be graveside services at Fresno Memorial Gardens 175 S. Cornelia Fresno, CA 93706 on Saturday June 18th at 10:00 am followed by a reception at the Piccadilly Inn Hotel 2305 W. Shaw Ave Fresno, CA 93711.