Obituary of Charles Herbert Melbourn

Charles Herbert Melbourn, 80, of Whitehouse Station, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on May 5, 2018 after a brave long battle with prostate cancer. He was born on November 11, 1937 in Perth Amboy, NJ to his dear parents Esther (Selin) and Charles H. Melbourn Sr. He was known to his airline friends as "Chuck" and to his family and others as "Herb". He graduated Perth Amboy HS in 1955 and Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster PA, in 1959. Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the US Air Force and attended Flight School. In 1960, when he returned home for the Christmas holiday, he married his sweetheart Linda Kalbhenn. He earned his pilot wings in 1961 and continued his service in the Air Force until honorably discharged in 1965. Herb was hired by United Airlines in 1965 and started his career flying the propeller-driven DC-6. When he retired in 1997, he was flying United's newest jet, the DC-10. Herb was social and friendly, thus he had many friends in NJ, FL and throughout the US. He traveled the world with his family and was an attentive husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and loyal friend! After retirement, he spent his summers in Bridgewater, NJ but Herb and his wife Linda moved to Jonathon's Landingin Jupiter, FL, where he was active in Jonathon's Landing Golf, Book Clubs, and was the President of West Bay and Hidden Cove neighborhoods. He could be noticed driving his convertible Thunderbird going to lunch with friends, or in his golf cart on his way to an important meeting. He faithfully attended the Jupiter First Church. In Bridgewater, Herb was a long-time member of the Raritan Valley Country Club and Bridgewater United Methodist Church. He loved flying, golfing, boating, a good book and his favorite pastries. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Linda, his cherished children, son David Melbourn and his wife Kristin and daughter Kristina Melbourn and Kevin Jones, 4 adored grandchildren, Haley Melbourn, Andrew, Ryan and Carson Lukasiuk, a dear sister Lynell Small, and nieces and nephew, Laurie, Susan and Jim. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother-in-law. Visitation: Monday, May 14, 2018, 5:00 to 8:00pm at Somerville Funeral Home, 10 West End Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876, (908) 725-2079. Religious Service: Tuesday, May 15, 2018, 10:00am at Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Road, Bridgewater, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Herb's memory be made to the charitable foundation at Jonathon's Landing Cares, 16823 Captain Kirle Drive, Jupiter, FL 33477 www.jonathanslanding.com/jl-cares "ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS"