Thomas Lee Melton was born December 5, 1939, in Rock Island Illinois, as the third of four children of Murl Melton and Mabel (Logsdon) Melton. Despite being born in the “big city” of Rock Island, Tom was a farm boy to his core. He was raised in rural Warren County, just outside of Little York, Illinois, during the post-depression era. Resources were scarce, and like many farm children of that era, Tom grew up wearing hand-me-down overalls that had often been patched up by his loving grandmother, Minnie, who was one of the most important influences in his early life.

Tom was very proud to have spent the first eight years of his education in a one-room country schoolhouse and, even as a senior citizen, would be called upon to tell modern schoolchildren about his experiences. Tom was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball) at Little York High School. He graduated as Salutatorian of the Class of 1957.

Tom majored in agriculture at the University of Illinois, where he was recognized as a gentle giant. His Nabor House brothers referred to him humorously as “the Ox”, in tribute to both his size and lack of physical dexterity. Later in life, Tom would also receive a graduate degree in Executive Business Management from Harvard University; however, he rarely spoke of his Ivy League experience. His heart was in the cornfields of rural Illinois.

Tom was only halfway through his college career when God’s grace and good fortune placed him at the side of Carole Matteson as the new year turned from 1959-1960, while Tom was home on Christmas break for the holidays. Tom and Carole were married less than a year later — two years before starting a family and while he was still in college. That relationship continues today, even beyond death.

After college graduation in 1961, Tom fulfilled his ROTC commitment by serving as an active-duty military officer in the United States Army. Tom was so admired as an officer that, upon his honorable discharge in 1963, his enlisted men bought him a golf putter that he held onto for as long as he was able to swing a club. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, always feeling humbled to be counted among his fellow heroes who served longer or more dangerous terms of duty.

Tom spent 42 years working for a single company: DeKalb AgResearch. He began as an hourly employee in a production plant in Warren County, Illinois, and rapidly progressed to eventually become Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America. Tom was universally seen by both his coworkers and subordinates as being a fair person who

always looked for “win-win” solutions. When subordinates would visit him in his office, he would walk around his desk and sit next to them, rather than looking at them across a desk. He would hold his phone calls to listen to the needs or concerns of a worker during an age when telephone was the only form of instant remote communication. He wanted to be present for people.

Tom’s humility was not just a show to impress people at work. In his personal life, he never met a waiter or a hotel maid who did not have a first name. He was accepting of all people, regardless of race, national origin, political party, gender, or sexual orientation. The less somebody had in common with him, the more he wanted to understand them. His sense of fairness and neutrality led him to serve as an election judge for many years.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of Kishwaukee Hospital, the Kishwaukee Country Club, and the Indian Creek Education Foundation. He served as a hospice volunteer for decades. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. After his retirement, he became particularly involved with the Shabbona Lions Club, for whom he has requested a funeral memorial.

Tom spent his three decades of retirement pursuing his hobby-turned-obsession with gardening and relentlessly attending the extracurricular activities of his five grandchildren. He also frequented the extracurricular activities of the children of his neighbors and friends. He wanted to be present for people.

It is Tom’s presence that will be missed most by his wife, his family, and his friends. Tom was preceded in death his older brother, James Melton. He is survived by his two sisters, Susie Polek and Ann Johnson. He leaves behind his wife of nearly 65 years, Carole (Matteson) Melton; a daughter, Cindy Fleetwood; a son, Tod (Diane) Melton; five grandchildren: Grant (Heather) Fleetwood, Scott Fleetwood, Carole Fleetwood, Warren Melton, and Audrey Melton; and two great-granddaughters: Maya Fleetwood and Lena Fleetwood.

There will be a public visitation at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb, Illinois from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday November 28, 2025. This will be followed by a private funeral, per Tom’s request. Private burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shabbona, Illinois.

Memorial donations will be accepted for the Shabbona Lions Club.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.