Lawrence Dean Melton

Melton, Larry of Akron, OH and formerly of Grand Rapids, MI, passed into peace at age 66 after incurring an accident while playing hockey, a sport he enjoyed throughout his life. (If you were to ask Larry, he’d say this was the only acceptable way to go.) While his death is a shock to the many people who loved him, his lifetime friendships are testament to the depth of his soul. Larry was born June 5, 1956, in Highland Park, MI, to Dorothy (Hutton) Byrne and Theodore Melton. He spent his childhood in Redford, MI, where he enjoyed skating on iced-over construction sites and playing late night Strat-O-Matic baseball with his buddies. Larry developed a love for music very early in life, and continued to rock out to his favorite tracks for the remainder of his life. He had an aptitude for writing and communication, winning the “Spirit of Detroit” award in 1974. He was also known to play the occasional (good-willed) prank, including once parking a car in the middle of the high school football field to protest the lack of student parking. Larry’s creativity and commitment to truth led him to study Broadcast Journalism at Michigan State University, where he met the first love of his life, Karen. They were married in August of 1980 and shared a beautiful partnership until her death. The two spent a majority of their life together in Grand Rapids and ultimately moved to Caledonia, MI, where they grew a community and family. Their daughters, Hannah and Natasha, enjoyed an idyllic upbringing in a house where music was abundant and family hugs were frequent. In addition to founding Triangle Productions, Larry was a sponsor of local little league, the resident video producer for Emmons Lake Elementary, and was usually found behind the lens of his camera. He took much pride in capturing important moments for both clients and friends. In 2010, he joined his daughters onstage, uncovering a passion for acting which he pursued for many years at several theaters in the West Michigan region. Some of Larry’s favorite times were spent on the ice at Eagles Ice Arena, at the annual Duckball draft (go Video Clippers), or over a good breakfast with his closest friends. His love for sports and games of all kinds permeated every aspect of life – even returning a shopping cart could be a good bout of competition. After 39 years of marriage, Larry lost his wife Karen to cancer in 2019. Though Karen’s passing rocked him, Larry was determined to continue to live his life with an open heart and open mind. He found love anew in his partner Jennifer, and in 2021 he followed his heart and moved to Akron, OH. While leaving Grand Rapids was a hard decision, he faced the future through a lens of positivity and was eager to nourish friendships both old and new. Their time was short, but their love was strong, and Larry was ecstatic for their future together. More than anything, Larry is exemplified in the sensitivity and emotion he showed throughout his life – frequently sharing both smiles and tears – something his daughters are incredibly grateful for. Larry leaves behind countless friends and many family members who will think of him frequently. He found something magical in each moment of life: be it Opening Day, a stellar ice cream cone, or the drum solo in Baba O’Riley. In Larry’s eyes, these small things were worth giving thanks for. He was a father, partner, brother, son, teammate, but most of all, he was a friend. Larry will be deeply missed by his daughters, Hannah, 27, and Natasha, 22; and his partner, Jennifer Joseph. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy; father, Ted; and his siblings, Terry, Pat, Ellen and Nicole – as well as their spouses, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins with whom he shared special bonds. Funeral services will be held 11 am Tuesday, June 28, at Kraft Meadows Intermediate School Field, 9230 Kraft Ave SE, Caledonia, MI 49316, with Tim Tuthill officiating. Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday from 4-7 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St. SE, Caledonia.