WILLIAM MELCHING, 99, of Bloomingdale, formerly of Steubenville, OH, passed away Thursday, July 16, 2009 at Trinity Medical Center West, Steubenville, OH. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio October 17, 1909, a son of the late William H. and Augusta L. Breneke Melching. He is the last of eight children and the eldest of 5 living generations. He married Dorothy Louer August 22, 1935 who died November 18, 1996. Bill retired from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel and was a US Army veteran of WWII having served in the European and African-Middle Eastern Theaters. He was a member of the East Springfield United Methodist Church of the Cross where he had been a choir member. He was a member of the Tri-State Harmonizers for over 50 years and was a volunteer of the American Red Cross. He is survived by his 2 daughters, Helen L. (Richard) Wickline of Warren and Shirley A. (James) Newburn, Sr. of Bloomingdale; by 6 grandchildren, Michelle Dunbar, Jeffrey (Barbara) Wickline and Richard Allen (Kendra) Wickline, Sheryl Kay (Jeff) Peckens, Sandra J. Newburn and James W. (Shelly) Newburn, Jr.; and by 14 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild and 3 step-great-great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Sunday at the Everhart-Bove Funeral Home, 110 West Main St., Richmond. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Monday at the East Springfield United Methodist Church of the Cross with the Reverend Tom Snodgrass officiating. Burial will follow in Ft. Steuben Burial Estates, Wintersville with full military honors. Condolences may be sent online at www.everhart-bovefuneralhomes.com.

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