Raymond Melder

Raymond John Melder 80, of Cranberry Township sadly passed away Sunday.

He was born Dec. 27, 1935, in Pittsburgh.

He was the beloved husband of Joanne Dixon Melder for 58 years; the proud and cherished father of Raymond (Cathy), David (Debra), Dana Osselborn (Ron) and Richard; and the dear “Pappy” of Ashley Werner (Justin), Raymond, Ryan, Tiffany, David, Renee. and Jessica.

He is survived by many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emma Eberhart Melder; his brothers, Charles (Mac) and Robert; and his sister, Myrtle Weigand.

Ray graduated from Oliver High School in 1954, and he was a member of the Manchester Presbyterian Church until the 1960s. He enjoyed attending his high school reunions and events that brought his friends together from Manchester.

He joined the U.S. Army in March of 1958, and he was discharged sometime in March during the 1960s. His Army Reserve Unit, the 316th Quartermaster Battalion, was called to duty in 1961 because of the Berlin crisis, and he served another year in the service of his country with the rank of sergeant.

After his second honorable discharge in 1962, he worked in various construction jobs before his hiring by the Columbia Gas Co. in 1963. Ray worked for Columbia Gas for 35 years in various capacities and retired as a utility inspector in 1998.

He was an avid hunter and lover of the outdoors and was especially fond of feeding the birds and his chipmunks and squirrels from his back deck.

MELDER — Friends of Raymond John Melder, who died Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Devlin Funeral Homeof Cranberry Township, 2678 Rochester Road.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Dutilh United Methodist Church, 1270 Dutilh Road, Cranberry Township. Internment will be at the Dutilh United Methodist Church Cemetery immediately following the service.Everyone is asked to please meet at the church.