Terry Jay Melton, Sr.

"On the eighth of November, 2018, Terry Jay Melton, Sr passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Middle River, MD at the age of 60. Born the eldest son of Charles and Frances Melton (nee Tomak) in February 1958, Terry grew up with two sisters Vicki and Rhonda and a brother, Dan in the St. Helena neighborhood of Dundalk, MD.

Terry attended Mergenthaler Vocational High School and studied electronics, a field that he enjoyed deeply and worked in for 30 years. Obsessed with technology and the emerging computer industry, his passion for amateur radio and electronics was only matched by his bon vivant personality and love of boating and a good party.

Together with his ever patient and good suffering wife Thea, they raised two sons Terry and Chuck, and took in their sons’ friends as their own around the dinner table. Armed with a love of life, an indomitable independent streak, and a steady supply of anecdotes, “life lessons”, and “the thing about the thing”, Terry Melton was a friend to those who would have him and a foil to those who would not.

A lover of boating, Terry and Thea ventured all over the Chesapeake Bay with their sons, family, and friends. For “just some guy from Riverview Avenue”, he traveled to Indonesia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and throughout the states and always looked forward to coming home to some “seriously good food” and another reason to celebrate being together.

From hurricanes, to snow storms, to “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”, and through any adversity, Terry found the bright hidden among the tarnished, the beauty within the broken, and bottom of any cup whether it was half empty or half full. His solicited (or not) advice ranged from “What are they going to do, take away your birthday?” to “Rock n’ Roll, man!” to heartfelt words too beautiful to be captured here, and at just the right time. Terry portrayed himself as a simple sort of guy, but deep within he possessed the wisdom of an old soul.

Slipped of these earthly bonds, Terry now plans to casually haunt those he loved and those he loathed, in that order.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 39 years, Thea Carolyn and by two sons, Terry Jay and Charles William and his daughters-in-law, Jenny Rae Mettee and Lauren Lissau. Also surviving are his mother Frances, and siblings Ronda and Dan. He is also survived by the memories, good times, and friendships he made while we was here.

A viewing will be held at Bruzdzinski Funeral Home at 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Essex, Maryland 21221 on Tuesday November 13th from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm. On 12/1/18 there will be a memorial service, TBD. All friends welcome."

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