MELDER RAYMOND JOHN Age 80, born in Pittsburgh, PA, on December 27, 1935, of Cranberry Township, sadly passed away, on Sunday, February 7, 2016. Beloved husband of Joanne Dixon Melder for 58 years; proud and cherished father of Raymond (Cathy), David , Dana Osselborn (Ron) and Richard; dear "Pappy" of Ashley Werner (Justin), Raymond, Ryan, Tiffany, David, Renee, and Jessica; great-grandfather of Braylen and Bennet; survived by many family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emma Eberhart Melder; brothers, Charles (Mac) and Robert; and sister, Myrtle Weigand. Ray graduated from Oliver High School in 1954, and was a member of Manchester Presbyterian Church until the sixties. He enjoyed attending his high school reunions and events that brought his friends together from Manchester. He joined the U.S. Army in March, 1958; he was discharged in March, 1960. His Army Reserve Unit, the 316th Quartermaster Battalion, was called to duty in 1961 because of the Berlin crisis and he served another year in the service of his country with the rank of Sgt. After his second honorable discharge in 1962, he worked in various construction jobs before his hiring by Columbia Gas Company in 1963. Ray worked for Columbia Gas for 35 years in various capacities and retired as a Utility Inspector in 1998. He was an avid hunter and lover of the outdoors and was especially fond of feeding the birds and his chipmunks and squirrels from his back deck. Friends will be received on Tuesday and Wednesday at 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME OF CRANBERRY TWP., 2678 Rochester Rd., 724-772-8800. Funeral service will be held at Dutilh United Methodist Church, 1270 Dutilh Rd., Cranberry Twp., PA, Thursday at 11 a.m., internment will be in Dutilh United Methodist Church Cemetery immediately following the service. Everyone please meet at Church. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb