1926
Freeman
2013
Freeman Harvey Melton Jr.
January 15, 1926 — August 23, 2013
Funeral Service will be at 2:00pm Tuesday in the First United Methodist Church of Friona with the Rev. Brett Hoyle and Rev. Kurt Borden officiating.
Burial will be at West Park Cemetery in Hereford, Texas.
Mr. Melton was born January 15, 1926 in Wellington. He was an outstanding athlete at Wellington High School and a member of the school’s Hall of Honor.
After serving two years in the Navy at the end of World War II, he attended West Texas State College on the G.I. Bill and football scholarship. He graduated in 1949 before going on to earn his Master of Education degree. Also in 1949, he married Rosemary Phillips.
Freeman coached high school sports for three years before becoming principal at McLean High School in 1953. By 1954, he became McLean’s Superintendent making him one of the youngest top administrators in the state of Texas.
Mr. Melton also served as Superintendent of Panhandle schools, and elementary prinicipal at Friona where he retired in 1987.
He was an avid golfer and devout member of the First United Methodist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Conrad; a sister Mozelle.
Survivors include his wife, Rosemary. Also two daughters, Julie Winegeart and husband Eddie of Amarillo, and Joyce Vance and husband Frank of Amarillo, and two sons, Steve Melton of Austin, and Paul Melton and wife Jan of Fort Worth. Sister Claudine Elliott of Muleshoe. He had five grandchildren, Heath Haseloff of Dallas, Desirae Hughes of Amarillo, Shawna Nichols of College Station, Jennifer McClellan of San Diego, California, and Britton Melton of Fort Worth, and four great-grandchildren.
Burial will be at West Park Cemetery in Hereford, Texas.
Mr. Melton was born January 15, 1926 in Wellington. He was an outstanding athlete at Wellington High School and a member of the school’s Hall of Honor.
After serving two years in the Navy at the end of World War II, he attended West Texas State College on the G.I. Bill and football scholarship. He graduated in 1949 before going on to earn his Master of Education degree. Also in 1949, he married Rosemary Phillips.
Freeman coached high school sports for three years before becoming principal at McLean High School in 1953. By 1954, he became McLean’s Superintendent making him one of the youngest top administrators in the state of Texas.
Mr. Melton also served as Superintendent of Panhandle schools, and elementary prinicipal at Friona where he retired in 1987.
He was an avid golfer and devout member of the First United Methodist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Conrad; a sister Mozelle.
Survivors include his wife, Rosemary. Also two daughters, Julie Winegeart and husband Eddie of Amarillo, and Joyce Vance and husband Frank of Amarillo, and two sons, Steve Melton of Austin, and Paul Melton and wife Jan of Fort Worth. Sister Claudine Elliott of Muleshoe. He had five grandchildren, Heath Haseloff of Dallas, Desirae Hughes of Amarillo, Shawna Nichols of College Station, Jennifer McClellan of San Diego, California, and Britton Melton of Fort Worth, and four great-grandchildren.
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