Drury Patton Melone's Obituary
Born January 16, 1928 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and entered into heaven on April 27, 2015. Pat was preceded in death by Mother, Phyllis Alleyne White Melone; Father, James Perry Melone Sr.; brothers, James P. Melone Jr., Jerry M. Melone, Robert P. Melone and sister Phyllis Carolyn Olmsted. He was survived by his wife of 62 years, Marie Louise Terbush Melone; children- Vicki Quesenberry, Gail and Richard Kamper, Lori and Mike Wisdom, Patrick and Cari Melone; grandchildren – Austin Quesenberry, Alyce Quesenberry; Preston and Jen Kamper, Megan and Brent Johnson, Lauren and Jonathan Shotts; Joshua Wisdom, Kyle Wisdom, Trent Wisdom; Joey Melone, Matt Melone, Presley Melone, Faith Melone; and great granddaughter Hayden Kamper; brothers – William R. Melone, Larry T. Melone and David C. Melone and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family. Pat, as he was known after meeting Marie, was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a family of seven boys and one girl. Following graduation from Will Rogers High School, he enlisted in the Navy and served as a control tower operator on Midway Island in the Pacific. He attended both the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma State University, but returned to the Navy instead of completing his engineering degree. Upon returning to the Navy, he served in Atsugi, Japan during the Korean War. Pat met Marie at Hillcrest Hospital in 1952 while visiting his brother Larry who had been admitted to the hospital where Marie was in Nurses Training. They married six months later following her graduation. The couple lived in Tulsa where Pat worked for Douglas Aircraft and then moved to Texas in 1956 for a job at then Temco Aircraft, which subsequently became E-Systems. He began as a Design Engineer, became Senior Designer, Aircraft Specialist, Supervisor Design and Project Engineer, and retired in 1989 as Technical Manager – Special Systems, working on projects including Big Safari. During his 33 years of service, Pat was well respected in the company advancing well beyond others expectations for one without a college degree. He also served on the retirement board improving retirement packages for employees and their families. Following his retirement in 1989, he did consulting work for MIT Lincoln Laboratory for two years. He was a devoted and loving husband, daddy and grandpa. He loved to play golf, bridge, pinochle and dominoes. He and Marie loved to travel and see new places, but their most enjoyable trips of all were those which included visits with family and close friends. Family, both immediate and extended, holds a place of special importance to both he and Marie. Pat was a long time member of New Covenant Presbyterian Church, he served many years as elder and later as a greeter. He was honored as an elder emeritus in 2011. He will long be remembered by those who knew him as a man of faith, family, integrity and devotion. His wife and children will receive friends and family for visitation on Friday evening May 1, 2015, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home. Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2014 at 1:00 PM at New Covenant Presbyterian Church – 2525 N. Buckner Boulevard – Dallas, TX 75228. Graveside service will follow at Restland. Memorial contributions may be made to Hire Heroes in memory of Pat Melone; in honor of the military service to our country which he, his brothers and all our veterans have provided for our country. Online link to Hire Heroes – https://www.hireheroesusa.org/donate-now/ . Or by mail: Hire Heroes USA; 400 Overview Business Park, 1360 Union Hill Rd. Building 2, Suite A; Alpharetta, GA 30004. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
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