Roger Hilton Melton

Roger Hilton Melton was both December 7, 1941 at the US Army’s 6th Calvary Base Hospital at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA and passed away on May 13, 2026 in Fletcher.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest B. Melton and Lillie Bell Byrd Melton, as well as two brothers, Billy and Bobby Melton.

Roger graduated from Enka High School in 1961, where he played in the band for all 4 years.

He accepted Jesus Christ in the early 1950’s at Calvary Baptist Church in West Asheville and was an active member of Skyland Baptist Church for 27 years, where he was ordained a Deacon in 1982 and also served as church treasurer. Roger joined Fletcher First Baptist Church in May of 2006 and was elected as a Deacon there in 2010.

He was active in the Boy Scouts, Explorer Scouts, and Sea Explorers in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, was a member of the Order of the Arrow and served on the staff at Camp Daniel Boone in 1960 and 1961. Roger was a charter member of the Buncombe County Rescue Squad from 1963-1976, where he served as Captain, Assistant Chief & Training Officer, Co-Director of Area 10 and on the Board Of Directors of the N.C. Association of Rescue Squads. He completed all light and heavy duty rescue courses with the N.C. Department of Insurance, Rescue Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill and Western Carolina University Fire College. He also trained in radiological monitoring, arson detection, public service communications, police radio communications, bomb search/recognition and basic law enforcement.

Roger donated over 10 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross and was a past Red Cross First Aid & CPR instructor for 19 years, with over 2000 hours of teaching credit. He received the American Red Cross Humanity metal and was a past instructor in the EMT program at A.B. Tech and S.W. Tech, teaching extrication and casualty handling.

He was employed at WLOS-TV from October 4, 1961 through December 14, 2007, working as a projectionist, film editor, camera and radio operator and director. He retired as a master control operator in the engineering department, after 46 years of service. Roger was a past member of the Buncombe County Bee Keepers Association, the Piedmont Dairy Goat Association, the Asheville Ambler Hiking Club, a Special Deputy with Buncombe County, the Civil Air Patrol and a member of the NRA with expert rating.

Roger is survived by his wife, Pauline Worley Melton, one sister, Mary Ann Melton Hensley, as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to friends and neighbors from White Pine Circle for all of the help, love and support during this difficult time.

A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, May 18 at Fletcher First Baptist Church with burial to follow at West Memorial Park. His family will greet friends at Fletcher First Baptist on Monday from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.