James Sherwood Melbert

James S. Melbert, 93, of Kingwood, TX, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 23, 2015. Born May 8th 1922 to Mrs. Ethel Perkins Melbert, wife of Revered Nathaniel H. Melbert, at the home of her parents Ella and Benjamin Franklin Perkins, 7010 Sherman Street in Houston, Texas.

James grew up living in many towns, since his father was a Methodist Minister and as the custom in those days, was moved to a new charge every few years. So James lived in Brenham Texas, Houston Texas, Berkley California, Orange Texas, Palestine Texas, Marlin Texas, Port Arthur Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated in 1939 from high school at The Allen Military Academy in Bryan Texas. Graduated from Southwestern University in 1943, with a BS Degree in Chemistry. Enlisted in the US Army reserve in September of 1942, in order to graduate from the University in January 1943. While at the University he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity, a member of the University Band, and President of his Senior Class. He went on Active duty with the Army in February 1943, and after basic training, the Army sent him to Louisiana State University to study Electrical Engineering after which he was sent to the Signal Corps and became assigned to the 192 Signal Repair Company. He was sent to Europe in the early fall of 1944, and was involved on the continent for eighteen months and returned to the United States in April 1946 for discharge from the Army. He went to work for the Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas in April 1946. He worked there continuously until April 1982 at which time he retired. During retirement, he studied income tax preparation with H&R Block and started working for H&R Block in 1985. He was accepted by the IRS, as an enrolled agent and worked in that appellation until 1996. At that time his health began to fail due to heart problems, and in 1998 he underwent a quadruple bypass heart operation. In 2006 James and Catherine moved to Kingwood Texas to live with their daughter, Kathryn Ruth and son-in-law Arthur Dick Tarsney. In June of 2008 he underwent a heart valve replacement, an operation for which he never fully recovered.

James is survived by his loving wife of 71 years,Catherine LaVerne Melbert; son, James Bruce and daughter, Kathryn Ruth; Four Grandchildren, nine Great Grandchildren, and two great, great Grandchildren.