Ronald Dean Melson

RONALD DEAN MELSON, 52, of Jacksonville, born Dec. 13, 1958, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. He was a member of Northside Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1977 and Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a Bachelor of Science in Radio-TV Journalism in 1981. He retired from the 189th Airlift Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard after 25 years. He was a member of the Enlisted Association of the Arkansas National Guard, National Guard Association of the United States, Chief's Council of the 189th Airlift Wing, Central Arkansas PT Cruiser Club and a volunteer with the 189th Airlift Wing Family Program. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Basil and Maxine Holcomb and Grady and Velma Melson; brother, Michael Melson; and father-in-law, Ray Franklin. Ronald is survived by his wife of almost 30 years, Jamie Melson of Jacksonville; his parents, Bobby and Emma Melson of Texas; one sister, Michele Melson of New York; sister-in-law, Regina Trotter and husband Jim; nephews Caleb and Jacob Trotter, all of Rockford, Ill.; and mother-in-law, Nelda Franklin of Jacksonville. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends of the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard and the Air National Guard across the country. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 15 at Arkansas Funeral Care Chapel, 2620 W. Main Street, Jacksonville, Ark. Funeral Service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, May 16 at Northside Pentecostal Church, 4622 Sherman Drive, North Little Rock. Interment will follow at Concord Cemetery in Furlow, Ark. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Pulaski County Humane Society. To sign his guestbook, please visit www.arkansasfuneralcare.com. Arrangements by Arkansas Funeral Care, 501-982-3400.