John Derrel Melton's Obituary
John Derrel Melton born December 1, 1925, in Winnfield, Louisiana to parents Lee Joseph and Clara Culp Melton, passed away after a short illness on June 10, 2013, in Tyler, Texas. John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lee; infant son, Dwight; and his beloved wife of almost fifty years, Norma Denton Melton. John served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946 and then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. He was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and numerous other medals as a pilot/navigator. John often joked that at the age of eighteen, he spent a cold, rainy Christmas holiday on top of a military garbage truck. John’s life soon changed while he was on military assignment in Waco, Texas; he met Norma, a student at Baylor University and the love of his life. Between his two military engagements, John and Norma were married and returned to Dallas, where John received his accounting degree from Southern Methodist University. He began his career at Reserve Life Insurance Company in 1953 and left as executive vice president of finance in 1969 to become president of Hawaii Corporation Insurance Group. John returned to Texas in 1973 as a consultant for the State Board of Insurance. As a consultant, John was immediately sent on assignment to Republic National Life Insurance Company (Republic). He became president of Republic in 1977 and served on the company’s Board of Directors. In 1981 John and Norma retired to Hideaway Lake, but retirement did not last long. The State Board of Insurance again asked John to help another company: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBS of Texas). He left retirement to help restructure BCBS of Texas. While at BCBS of Texas, John served as Chairman of the Board, President and CEO until his final retirement to Hideaway Lake in 1990. He participated on Boards for Richardson Bank and Trust and United Way of America. John was also a member of Oak Cliff Kiwanis Club and other charity organizations. He loved sports, reading, movies and travel– especially cruises. Family holidays were always special for John. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Derrel and Annette Melton of Frisco, Texas; daughter, Lynn Edens of Dallas, Texas; five grandchildren: Kimberly Wells and husband, Craig, Melanee Rackley, John Melton, Aaron Edens and Justin Edens; and five great granddaughters: Callaway Wells, Madeline Rackley, Caroline Wells, Amanda Rackley and Meredith Rackley. John’s humor, love of life, integrity, generosity, and kindness will be greatly missed by his family, Lucille Jennings and friends. Graveside services will be held Monday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. at Whispering Waters, Area II, Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to The Wounded Warrior Project. Please call 887-832-6997 for information or visit http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ to download the donation form.
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