NORMAN — Carlton Earl (Carl) Melton, 88, of Norman, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, after a long illness.
Memorial services for Carlton will be 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1601 W. Imhoff Road in Norman, with The Rev. Alan Sutherland officiating.
Carl was born June 1, 1924, in Allen, Texas, to Carlton Earl and Sallie Cate Melton. He grew up in McKinney, Texas, graduating from Boyd High School in May 1941. He attended North Texas State College until June 1943, when he joined the Navy for flight training. He served in the Navy until January 1947, when he was discharged.
He returned to school at North Texas State College, receiving a Bachelor of Science in biology in May 1948. From 1948 until 1953, he attended graduate school at the University of Illinois, receiving an M.S. in zoology in 1950 and a Ph.D. in physiology in 1953. He taught physiology and did research at Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland until fall 1955 when he went to Southwestern Medical School of the University of Texas, Dallas, as assistant professor of physiology.
He and his family moved to Norman in 1961, where he did aeromedical research at the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute until 1984 when he retired. He later taught at Oklahoma City University for one semester as professor of biology from 1985 until 1993. He also had adjunct professorships in the OU Department of Zoology and the Department of Physiology at the OU Medical School.
He was a member of the American Physiological Society, the American Association of Anatomists, the Aerospace Medical Association, the Society For Experimental Biology and Medicine and the Society of the Sigma Xi. In 1979, he received the Arnold D. Tuttle award of the Aerospace Medical Association for outstanding research in aerospace medicine. In his professional career, he published more than 50 scientific papers and reports. He was an instrument-rated commercial pilot and a flight instructor. He was a member of the Order of Quiet Birdmen (QB).
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Joanne Melton on July 16, 2012; and a sister, Kathryn O’Dell.
He is survived by a daughter, Edith Melton St. John and her husband David; sons Eric Melton and wife Ann and Matthew Melton and his wife Heidi; granddaughter, Ellen and grandson Clark Melton; grandsons Edward and Stewart St. John, all of Norman; a brother, David Melton, of McKinney, Texas; a niece, Carole Ann (O’Dell) Watters of McKinney, Texas; and a nephew, Thomas Carlton O’Dell of Houston.
Memorials donations may be made in memory of Carl Melton to The American Red Cross, 1205 Halley Ave., Norman, OK 73069; St. Michael’s Church, Norman, to The City Rescue Mission, 800 W. California Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73106; or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements for Carl and his family have been placed in the care of the Vice family at Havenbrook Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.
Norman Transcript, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
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