Rev. James C.F. Melter

Rev. James C.F. Melter, 75, of Tiffin, died at 5:45 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2016, at his residence.  He was born Dec 21, 1940, in Cincinnati to Robert and Helen (Cochran) Melter.  He married Susan Louise Werner June 8, 1963, in Cincinnati and she survives in Tiffin.

Other survivors include, a son, Glenn (Denise) Melter of Woodville, Ohio; a daughter, Laura (Jerome) Miller of Bettsville; seven grandchildren, D.J. and Emma Rose Melter, Kris Miller, Kurtis (Angel) Miller, Hannah, Rachel and Seth James Miller; two great grandchildren,  Alivia and Kasey Miller; and a sister, Diana (Jack) Bragg of Indianapolis, Indiana. One niece and two nephews also survive, as well as his extended family, Linda Perron, Carol Bramschreiber, Mary Burns, and Jane Harlemert.

He was a graduate of Woodward High School, Cincinnati; Elmhurst University of Chicago, Illinois; and he received his Masters of Divinity from Eden Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.  He was ordained as a minister in The United Church of Christ June 25, 1967, in Cincinnati at Matthews United Church of Christ, and he proudly served for 48 years in Van Wert, Baltimore, Ohio, and Kettlersville.  He was a founder of the Lay School of Religion for the Northwest Ohio Association of United Church of Christ. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin; the Lion’s Club; Kiwanis, and he coached youth baseball for many years.  Jim was always an active member of the community and loved spending time with the kids. He could always be found by any student that needed to talk to him. He continued in that spirit following his grandchildren to their many activities in his retirement.  Jim was also an animal lover and will be missed by his dogs, Peanut and Daisy.

Visitation for family and friends will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St. Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419) 447-3113. Visitation will also be 10-11 a.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016, in Baltimore, Ohio, at Trinity United Church of Christ.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Trinity United Church of Christ, Baltimore, Ohio.  Rev. Jill Dunlap will officiate.  Burial will take place in Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin.

Memorials may be made to Baltimore’s Trinity United Church of Christ Window Fund, Seneca County School of Opportunity, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind in care of the funeral home.