Walter Thomas "Tommy" Melton passed away on June 28, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

Funeral services will take place at 4:00pm on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange with Pastor Barry Bradley officiating. Burial will follow the service at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Irving Street in West Orange.
Visitation will be held on Sunday prior to the service at Claybar Funeral Home during the hours of 2:00pm-4:00pm.
Tommy was born July 12, 1946 in Warren, Arkansas to Howard & Geraldine Melton. He was always full of adventure even as a young lad... roaming the river and woods at his grandparents in Arkansas.
He later moved to Orange, Texas and graduated in 1964 from Lutcher Stark High School. In that same year, he married Shelly Flanigan, the mother of his three children, and moved to Sulphur, Louisiana, where they lived until her death in 2009.
Tommy was blessed to find love again, marrying Janie Wallace, of Orange in 2010. He loved every minute spent with Janie... shopping, vacationing, spending time with classmates, or just simply being together. He smiled from ear to ear anytime he spoke of her and beamed when she was at his side.... which is exactly where she was when he left this world around midnight Thursday.
Tommy worked for Firestone Polymer in Sulphur, La where he retired in 2017 after 53 years of employment. During his life... Tommy enjoyed flying planes, riding motorcycles, and driving fast cars. He enjoyed hunting, fishing & road trips with his best friend, Mitch. Tommy was a lover of animals... an antique-shopper... a great story-teller (especially about his work-mates at Firestone)... and mostly enjoyed any time spent with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Shelly and his son, David.
He is survived by his wife, Janie of Orange. Children - DeeDee Melton of Sulphur; Denise LeBleu (Brian) of Ragley; Stephen Padgett-Olmeda (Marcos) of Austin; and Joey Dale Dronett of Orange.
Also those left to cherish his memory are the joys of his life... his Grandchildren - Wesley Owens, Chris Owens, Nick Mouhot (Bailey), Nicole Mouhot, Robin Young, Lincoln LeBleu, Deven Shuff, Drew Melton, Jeremy Melton, Trey Melton, Shelby Dale Johnson, Seth Dronett, Saylor Dronett & Claire Stelly. Great-Grandchildren - Eden, Gavin, Adeline, Aleaha, Venice, Indy, Lucas & Liam.
Pallbearers will be Tommy's grandsons, Wesley, Chris, Nick, Lincoln, Deven, Drew, Jeremy, Trey & Seth. Honorary Pallbearers are Colt Richard & Peyton Collins.
The family requests in lieu of flowers/plants that donations be made in Tommy's memory to First Baptist Church-Orange, 7637 MLK Jr. Dr., Orange, Texas 77632 OR to Buckner Children’s Village, 9055 Manion Dr., Beaumont, Texas, 77706.