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From: PEEBUM@aol.com [mailto:PEEBUM@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 5:23 AM
To: dgrif@citlink.net
Subject: Taps, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lindy A. Melton

Dear Grif and Max,

I received a Christmas card from Anne-Marie (Annemie) Melton which had very sad news. Lindy passed away in his sleep on May 29, 2006, of pneumonia after 4 days in the hospital. Anne-Marie was with him at the time.

The 1996 Air Force Association Directory shows he was born 11/23/39, graduated from Troy State University, was on active duty from 1959 to 1986 and was the European Rep for MRJ, Inc. Children included Isabel, Edmund, Evelyn, Kirsten and Jennifer. The 2001 AFA Directory shows he was Systems Engineer, Retired, Veridian-MRJ. The 2003 AFA Directory shows Prog. Dir./Consultant, Retired, Army Defense Missile Program, DOD, Fairfax, VA.

Lindy joined the 55th Wing in 1967, early in the RC-135 program. He Came from KC-135s at Limestone, Maine. His wife Betty was formerly an Air Force nurse at Limestone. They had two daughters while they were in Bellevue. Lindy was my Nav 2 on Ray Morris’ crew and he was a crackerjack navigator with me. He was a joy to know and work with. We had many good times together. 

From Offutt he went to Okinawa. When I was Deputy Base CO at Malmstrom in 1973, I went to Maxwell AFB to attend the USAF Commanders’ Seminar. Lindy was there in Command and Staff School and he and Betty invited me to dinner. It turned out to be a party with them and Willie Mueller who was also in Command and Staff School, a most enjoyable evening. Jerry Heller, who was the pilot on Ray’s crew with us, told me in 1985 that Betty died from a brain tumor in late 70s and Lindy was devastated.

Later Lindy was posted to Germany where he met and married Anne-Marie. When he retired in 1999 they settled in Spring, Texas. I saw them there in 2000. We had a delightful day together catching up on our lives. Lindy was talking about possibly going back to work as a consultant for someone in the Woodlands, TX. They had 8 grandchildren at that time.

In 2004 Anne-Marie wrote and told us Lindy could not write letters anymore because he had Alzheimer’s disease. It was still manageable but their big plans for retirement were gone. 

Lindy’s daughter, Jennifer, died Oct. 13, 2005 after a year’s fight with breast cancer that spread into her lungs, liver and brain. She was only 36 and her loss was a tremendously heavy blow to Lindy who was already weakened. He was in a Sunrise Community Alzheimer’s home in the Woodlands. By December he was childlike, had to be dressed and fed. He lost weight and could not speak. Anne-Marie was with him a few hours every day, and says his health and his brain were getting worse day by day. How very sad it is to think of. Her love, courage and devotion to Lindy is almost beyond imagination.

Anne-Marie says they had many wonderful years together and she is very thankful for that. She says he was the love of her life. Judy says he was one of the nicest people she ever met. I agree. 

The last few months have taken a heavy toll on our compatriots and lifetime friends. It is hard to accept the losses but with God’s blessing we will be together again on the other side.

Anne-Marie said she planned to go to Germany this month to visit, but here is her address: 

Anne-Marie Melton
31307 Ashton Village Court
 Spring, TX 77386-2579
Tel: (281) 419-0199

V.O.
Paul B. Miller