William Edward Melton (“Bill”) was born on April 24, 1943 to Noah Ivy Parker Melton and Evelyn Kirkman Melton in Trinity, Texas. He passed away on June 3, 2026 in Corinth, Texas at the age of 83 after a months-long battle with MRSA and its ensuing complications and disabilities.

Bill was reared in Mart, Texas and was a graduate of Mart High School. He subsequently attended and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. He was fiercely proud to be a Longhorn for the rest of his life, sometimes remarking that he even bled burnt orange. While at UT, he was a member of the Texas Longhorn Band and later told one of his granddaughters that there was nothing like the rush that resulted from marching out to play in front of thousands of Longhorn fans. His son followed in his footsteps to become a UT graduate. To his everlasting feigned dismay, his daughter, one of his step-sons, and three of his granddaughters became Aggies.

Bill loved his family, friends, and the game of golf. He also loved the many dogs he had as pets and companions through the years. Prior to retiring, Bill had a long and successful career as a Management Consultant. He was a man of many talents and gifts, including a beautiful singing voice, high intelligence, and an insatiable curiosity about the world and current events to name a few. He was also very talented musically, not only playing the trumpet in the Longhorn Band, but also playing the piano by ear. Bill was a hard-working, incredibly honest, and fair man, and he believed that anything worth doing was worth doing right. His beliefs and legacy live on in his children and grandchildren.

Bill and his wife, Claudia Everett Melton, were introduced mid-life by a mutual friend, who said that they might enjoy going to the movies together. Indeed, they did, and they were married for 25 years prior to his death. Claudia survives Bill, as does his daughter, Melanie Melton Wahrmund (Gary) of Fredericksburg, Texas; his son, William Matthew Melton of Fredericksburg, Texas; his step-son, Randall Craig Decker (Tori) of Van Alstyne, Texas; and his step-son, Andrew Scott Decker of Little Elm, Texas.

During his life, Bill and Claudia had a combined total of seven grandchildren, who they called the “Magnificent Seven”. All of the Magnificent Seven are “theirs”, and all of them survive Bill. He was dubbed “Panda” by their eldest granddaughter when Bill was trying to teach her as a toddler to say “Grandpa”. Instead, it came out as “Panda”, and he was thereafter known by the grandchildren by that nickname. Bill and Claudia’s grandchildren, together with their respective spouses, fiancés, and intendeds, are Madelynne Wahrmund Stilianos (Steven) of Dallas, Texas; Megan Alexandra Wahrmund (Landry Smith) of Nacogdoches, Texas; Mia Wahrmund of Fredericksburg, Texas; Jacob Ryan Decker (Maycee Fitch) of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Nolan Ray Decker (Meagan Rachui) of Aubrey, Texas; Audrey Nicole Decker of Aubrey, Texas; and Madison Elizabeth Decker of Van Alstyne, Texas.

Bill is also survived by his sister, Donna Felton and family. He was predeceased by his parents and his half-sister, Dora Alice Melton.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026 at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas. A reception will be held immediately thereafter at Bill’s and Claudia’s home, which sits on the shores of Lewisville Lake and where Bill spent many hours happily looking at the lake and all of the wildlife that inhabit or visit the property.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a contribution in Bill’s memory do so to The American Alzheimer’s Association, The American Heart Association, Paws In The City (Dallas branch), or the charity of the donor’s choice.