Douglas Melzer

Douglas Melzer, age 91 of Redlands CA died after a short illness on November 1, 2015, with his loving family by his side.

Douglas was born on December 1, 1923 in Los Angeles California, to Otto and Marion (Phillips) Melzer, and grew up in Pasadena. He met and married Josette Frontin in 1950 and moved to Redlands in 1953.

A talented musician, Douglas’ intended career as a concert pianist was interrupted by WWII. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, trained as a fighter pilot and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel. Following retirement from the Air Force he served 25 years in the Air National Guard and spent over a year flying missions in Korea.

Douglas was a founding member of Grand Central Rocket Company in Glendale CA, which was later acquired by Lockheed where he continued to work for many years as an engineer.

Doug was a meticulous carpenter and draftsman, spending countless weekend hours working on the family home in Redlands. His love of precise draftsmanship carried over into his passion for art, and he created over 200 detailed freehand geometric drawings after retirement. He was also a great lover of travel and adventure, and for a while was a travel agent for co-workers, friends, and family, saying the only thing better than taking a trip himself was to send someone on a sucessful adventure. His own travels took him to his beloved wife’s birthplace in Brittany, France (where he perfected the art of pretending to speak French), as well as the Caribbean Islands, African safaris, and a trip to the Amazon.

He was was President-Emeritus of the International Knights of the Round Table, with 60 years of service in the club. He was also a longtime member of the Torch Club and The Spinet, and devoted many of his retirement years to helping the Boys and Girls Club. He will especially be remembered as a dear friend by many people who were touched by him throughout his life. His kindness to others and his engaging smile and conversation will be greatly missed.  

Douglas is survived by his wife Josette, and their children, daughter Janine, and son Paul (Emily Covington), and  granddaughters Holly Noelle Verhoeven, Karina Ingerslev (Julien Casel), and great-grandchildren Nathalie and newborn Oskar Douglas, and his brother Phillips of New Zealand. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Louis, sister Marion “Didi” Bowen, and daughter Nathalie Therese Melzer-Ingerslev of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Special thanks to Drs Abudayyeh and Hilliard, and all of the kind and able staff at Loma Linda University Medical Center's Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Services will be held on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., at Riverside National Cemetery, officiated by Father Leonard Mestas of the Veterans Administration Medical Center.