Elwood MELSON
Elwood F. Melson, Jr.
Age 87 died December 25th, 2001 after a long illness from a series of strokes.
He was born in Frankford, DE on March 12, 1914 to Elwood F. Melson and Laura Buckson Melson. The family moved to Wilmington when he was in his teens. A graduate of Wilmington High School, the University of Arizona and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Following his admission to the Bar of Delaware in 1940 he began the practice of law with his father. During that same year he married his wife, Grace Vose Melson. After service in the Navy aboard the Battleship Indiana he returned in 1946 to a solo practice, his father having been appointed Judge of the newly created Family Court for New Castle County. Meanwhile the Junior Melson became active in politics and in 1954 was elected to the Delaware State Senate.
A member of a small and nearly powerless minority, Melson decided that to accomplish anything he would have to confine his efforts to a very few projects, the most notable of which was the abolition of the death penalty. In the spring of 1955 he introduced his first bill to accomplish that purpose. He spent the next 3 years in further study of the subject, speaking to church and civic groups, and discussing it with his fellow legislators. In 1958 the bill was enacted into law in large part because of Melson's dedication.
In 1964 he was appointed to succeed his father as an Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court. In addition to numerous well written decisions that set forth with clarity many of the principles that guided the court, he made notable contributions as a member of a special committee charged with rewriting the statute on support and as a member of a special committee charged with preparing legislation to establish a statewide Family Court, he drafted a bill, which was adopted nearly unchanged. It included many innovative ideas such as a provision for alleging that conduct, "imperiled the family relationship" the net effect of which was to obviate bringing criminal charges to secure the protection of the law to endangered domestic litigants. His most notable achievement was the support formula that he wrote for the purpose of bringing uniformity, fairness, and balance to a subject that looms large in the jurisdiction of the Court. The formula proved so successful that it was adopted by the entire Court. It has been recommended as a model by the Federal agency and has since been adopted in many jurisdictions in both the United States and abroad. The formula is now generally considered one of the all-time most important tools for courts exercising support jurisdiction and is known as the "Melson Formula".
Since 1980, he and Grace enjoyed retirement to the fullest. He is survived by his wife of 61 years and 2 sons, Donald and his wife Carol and Stephen and his wife JoAnn and their son Kenny; and 2 daughters, Melissa and Alicia.
At his request the viewing and funeral will be for the family only. No flowers please.
[published 12/28/2001]Wilmington News Journal
Elwood F. Melson, Jr.
Age 87 died December 25th, 2001 after a long illness from a series of strokes.
He was born in Frankford, DE on March 12, 1914 to Elwood F. Melson and Laura Buckson Melson. The family moved to Wilmington when he was in his teens. A graduate of Wilmington High School, the University of Arizona and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Following his admission to the Bar of Delaware in 1940 he began the practice of law with his father. During that same year he married his wife, Grace Vose Melson. After service in the Navy aboard the Battleship Indiana he returned in 1946 to a solo practice, his father having been appointed Judge of the newly created Family Court for New Castle County. Meanwhile the Junior Melson became active in politics and in 1954 was elected to the Delaware State Senate.
A member of a small and nearly powerless minority, Melson decided that to accomplish anything he would have to confine his efforts to a very few projects, the most notable of which was the abolition of the death penalty. In the spring of 1955 he introduced his first bill to accomplish that purpose. He spent the next 3 years in further study of the subject, speaking to church and civic groups, and discussing it with his fellow legislators. In 1958 the bill was enacted into law in large part because of Melson's dedication.
In 1964 he was appointed to succeed his father as an Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court. In addition to numerous well written decisions that set forth with clarity many of the principles that guided the court, he made notable contributions as a member of a special committee charged with rewriting the statute on support and as a member of a special committee charged with preparing legislation to establish a statewide Family Court, he drafted a bill, which was adopted nearly unchanged. It included many innovative ideas such as a provision for alleging that conduct, "imperiled the family relationship" the net effect of which was to obviate bringing criminal charges to secure the protection of the law to endangered domestic litigants. His most notable achievement was the support formula that he wrote for the purpose of bringing uniformity, fairness, and balance to a subject that looms large in the jurisdiction of the Court. The formula proved so successful that it was adopted by the entire Court. It has been recommended as a model by the Federal agency and has since been adopted in many jurisdictions in both the United States and abroad. The formula is now generally considered one of the all-time most important tools for courts exercising support jurisdiction and is known as the "Melson Formula".
Since 1980, he and Grace enjoyed retirement to the fullest. He is survived by his wife of 61 years and 2 sons, Donald and his wife Carol and Stephen and his wife JoAnn and their son Kenny; and 2 daughters, Melissa and Alicia.
At his request the viewing and funeral will be for the family only. No flowers please.
[published 12/28/2001]Wilmington News Journal
Elwood MELSON
Elwood F. Melson, Jr.
Age 87 died December 25th, 2001 after a long illness from a series of strokes.
He was born in Frankford, DE on March 12, 1914 to Elwood F. Melson and Laura Buckson Melson. The family moved to Wilmington when he was in his teens. A graduate of Wilmington High School, the University of Arizona and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Following his admission to the Bar of Delaware in 1940 he began the practice of law with his father. During that same year he married his wife, Grace Vose Melson. After service in the Navy aboard the Battleship Indiana he returned in 1946 to a solo practice, his father having been appointed Judge of the newly created Family Court for New Castle County. Meanwhile the Junior Melson became active in politics and in 1954 was elected to the Delaware State Senate.
A member of a small and nearly powerless minority, Melson decided that to accomplish anything he would have to confine his efforts to a very few projects, the most notable of which was the abolition of the death penalty. In the spring of 1955 he introduced his first bill to accomplish that purpose. He spent the next 3 years in further study of the subject, speaking to church and civic groups, and discussing it with his fellow legislators. In 1958 the bill was enacted into law in large part because of Melson's dedication.
In 1964 he was appointed to succeed his father as an Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court. In addition to numerous well written decisions that set forth with clarity many of the principles that guided the court, he made notable contributions as a member of a special committee charged with rewriting the statute on support and as a member of a special committee charged with preparing legislation to establish a statewide Family Court, he drafted a bill, which was adopted nearly unchanged. It included many innovative ideas such as a provision for alleging that conduct, "imperiled the family relationship" the net effect of which was to obviate bringing criminal charges to secure the protection of the law to endangered domestic litigants. His most notable achievement was the support formula that he wrote for the purpose of bringing uniformity, fairness, and balance to a subject that looms large in the jurisdiction of the Court. The formula proved so successful that it was adopted by the entire Court. It has been recommended as a model by the Federal agency and has since been adopted in many jurisdictions in both the United States and abroad. The formula is now generally considered one of the all-time most important tools for courts exercising support jurisdiction and is known as the "Melson Formula".
Since 1980, he and Grace enjoyed retirement to the fullest. He is survived by his wife of 61 years and 2 sons, Donald and his wife Carol and Stephen and his wife JoAnn and their son Kenny; and 2 daughters, Melissa and Alicia.
At his request the viewing and funeral will be for the family only. No flowers please.
[published 12/28/2001]Wilmington News Journal
Elwood F. Melson, Jr.
Age 87 died December 25th, 2001 after a long illness from a series of strokes.
He was born in Frankford, DE on March 12, 1914 to Elwood F. Melson and Laura Buckson Melson. The family moved to Wilmington when he was in his teens. A graduate of Wilmington High School, the University of Arizona and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. Following his admission to the Bar of Delaware in 1940 he began the practice of law with his father. During that same year he married his wife, Grace Vose Melson. After service in the Navy aboard the Battleship Indiana he returned in 1946 to a solo practice, his father having been appointed Judge of the newly created Family Court for New Castle County. Meanwhile the Junior Melson became active in politics and in 1954 was elected to the Delaware State Senate.
A member of a small and nearly powerless minority, Melson decided that to accomplish anything he would have to confine his efforts to a very few projects, the most notable of which was the abolition of the death penalty. In the spring of 1955 he introduced his first bill to accomplish that purpose. He spent the next 3 years in further study of the subject, speaking to church and civic groups, and discussing it with his fellow legislators. In 1958 the bill was enacted into law in large part because of Melson's dedication.
In 1964 he was appointed to succeed his father as an Associate Judge of the New Castle County Family Court. In addition to numerous well written decisions that set forth with clarity many of the principles that guided the court, he made notable contributions as a member of a special committee charged with rewriting the statute on support and as a member of a special committee charged with preparing legislation to establish a statewide Family Court, he drafted a bill, which was adopted nearly unchanged. It included many innovative ideas such as a provision for alleging that conduct, "imperiled the family relationship" the net effect of which was to obviate bringing criminal charges to secure the protection of the law to endangered domestic litigants. His most notable achievement was the support formula that he wrote for the purpose of bringing uniformity, fairness, and balance to a subject that looms large in the jurisdiction of the Court. The formula proved so successful that it was adopted by the entire Court. It has been recommended as a model by the Federal agency and has since been adopted in many jurisdictions in both the United States and abroad. The formula is now generally considered one of the all-time most important tools for courts exercising support jurisdiction and is known as the "Melson Formula".
Since 1980, he and Grace enjoyed retirement to the fullest. He is survived by his wife of 61 years and 2 sons, Donald and his wife Carol and Stephen and his wife JoAnn and their son Kenny; and 2 daughters, Melissa and Alicia.
At his request the viewing and funeral will be for the family only. No flowers please.
[published 12/28/2001]Wilmington News Journal
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