AREA OBITUARIES – Otis Melton

Otis Eugene Melton, of Fulton, Ky., passed peacefully at home at 7:41 a.m. on June 15, 2026, with his daughter and caregiver, Andrea at his bedside. Otis was 103 1/2 years of age.
He was born at home on Nov. 26, 1922, between Water Valley and Pilot Oak, Ky. 
He went to school at Water Valley and graduated in 1941. 
In 1942, he went to Murray State Teachers College in Murray, Ky., and then he went to a government sponsored sheet metal school in Mayfield, Ky. for six weeks and from there to Connecticut to help build submarines for the government. 
Knowing he would be drafted during WWII, he enlisted in the Reserve Corp Air Force on Nov. 5, 1942, as he wanted to be a pilot. On April 15, 1944, he was Commissioned Second Lieutenant and given his Pilot Wings. He was ordered to go to Germany while he was stationed in Lincoln, Neb., but the War ended and he didn’t have to go. He was honorably discharged on Nov.5, 1945, three years to the day he enlisted.
He married Lillie Mae Martin from Fulton, Ky. in Moultrie, Ga., at First Presbyterian Church at 8:30 a.m. on May 28, 1944. They were together during his military years living wherever he was stationed. They celebrated 73 years of marriage. 
After WWII ended, they resided in Fulton, Ky., and he was employed at the Fulton Post Office as a carrier, a clerk and Assistant Postmaster. He retired in 1981.
He was saved in October 1954 at the Fulton Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Hubert Covington holding a Revival. He was a devoted follower of Christ from then on. He was a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Elder and Stated Clerk and was always very active in church activities. He loved being in the Follies! He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Civitan Club, American Legion and WWII Museum.
Otis got interested in photography when he was a student at Water Valley School because a teacher had a camera and taught him how to use it. He and Mae traveled all of the US (except North Dakota, Alaska and Hawaii), and several times to Canada and Mexico. Also took a cruise. He has thousands of pictures and videos. He enjoyed fishing and he also enjoyed working in his garden and thornless blackberries. He mowed his yard until he was 102 years old and even was hoeing his blackberries of weeds April 20 of this spring. 
After having a heart attack in 1990 he taught himself the computer and really got more into music. He had always liked classical piano music since Andrea and Connie took piano lessons. He was an avid music lover. 
He loved watching University of Kentucky basketball since he played basketball in high school.
He is survived by two daughters, Andrea Sikes and Connie Vowell (Kirk); a sister-in-law, Katherine (Larry) Henderson; a grandson, Johnny (Morgan) Jamison; two great-grandchildren, Macy and Coleman Jamison; nephews, Mike (Paula) Melton, Jim (Tammy) Melton, David and Paul Melton, Tommy (Margaret) Greer, Jimmy (Debra) Greer, and Kent (Marina) Greer; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Cora Ethel Smith Melton; three brothers, Noble (Mary) Melton, Smith (Margaret) Melton and Leon Melton; two nephews, Vernon (Shirley) Melton and Gary (Norma) Melton; a great-nephew Bobby Melton; his wife, Mae Melton; two sons-in-law, Larry Jamison and Duane Sikes; a brother-in-law, Thomas Greer; and a nephew, Brent Greer.
He was an awesome husband, father, grandfather and a father-in-law. He was very disciplined and exercised until May of this year.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Fri., June 19, 2026, at the Hornbeak Funeral Chapel with burial to follow in the Greenlea Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 12 noon until the hour of service.
Memorials may be made to Fulton Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 1159 Parker Rd., South Fulton, TN 38257; St Jude, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or WWII Museum, 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.