Joseph Harris Melton, Jr., 86, told his last inappropriate joke in his hometown of Louisville on October 25, 2017 and the Jack Daniels stock prices plummeted.
The Mayor of Valley Station has been called to serve a higher office, men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him.
Joe was born into the loving arms of Joseph Melton, Sr. and Violet Melton on May 6, 1931. He graduated from Valley High School in 1949 where he was a STANDOUT basketball and track star. Joe graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1954 and somehow in 1954 he convinced the beautiful Jan Cartuyvelles to marry him. Jan said she fell for “the leader of the pack”. The two were wed at St. James UCC on Taylor Blvd. Upon his graduation from WKU, he was given the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Upon leaving the Military, Joe and Jan lived for a short time in Cincinnati working for the Lilly Tulip Cup Corporation, until moving to Louisville to chase his dream of opening a chain of Family run Grocery Stores we all know as Melton Food Mart. At Melton’s peak there were 9 stores in total, 5 of which belonged to Joe and Jan, the others belonged to his siblings, Don, Paul, and Leon.
Joe loved the Kentucky Wildcats, deep fried southern food, fishing (usually not catching much but a little BS), gambling on the horses and sports, his golf game, and Jack Daniels, but not necessarily in that order.
He was a 65 year member of the Valley Masonic Lodge #511, was a Shriner, and a veteran of the U. S. Army.
Preceding him in death was his father and mother, Joe, Sr. and Violet; his father and mother-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Cartuyvelles; brother, Ralph; sister-in-law, Eva; and his dog, Taffy.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 63 years, Jan; his children, Kathy Cheatham (Wayne), Joe Melton III (Cathy), Robin Vincent (Doug) and Brad Melton; grandchildren, Keena (Emily), Kam, Kolin, Joe IV and Sara; great grandson, Duke; brothers, Don, Leon and Paul (Betsy); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 12 p.m. Monday at Owen Funeral Home with burial in Bethany Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 – 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.