Bill Franklin Melton

Bill Franklin Melton (aka PopPop), age 78, passed away after a brief illness on January 20, 2025. Born April 3, 1946, in Memphis, Bill graduated from Germantown High School where he excelled academically and athletically in several sports. He was scouted by the Reds but an injury forced him to take another path which led him to marry the love of his life, Deborah, on June 6, 1969. Following the birth of his daughter, Amber, in 1971, Bill moved his family to Drummonds which has been home ever since.
Throughout his life, Bill continued to love all things sports, particularly softball. He dedicated 35 years to coaching and umpiring softball in Tipton County. He was known for pouring his love of the game into his players in practice then loading them up in the back of his '65 Chevy and taking them to a late drive-in movie or breakfast at Shoney's. He never missed one game his daughter played and once his granddaughter arrived, he was on repeat. With her, his new name was born - PopPop. It stuck like glue and spread like wildfire. It was a rare occasion for any one to call him by his birth name. If PopPop wasn't on the field coaching one of his girls, he was keeping his own official score book as he stated it "occupied his mind so his mouth stayed shut". He has a collection of about 50 completed score books and equal number rule books all highlighted with written notes in the margin.
He was a mechanic who could fix anything and a deer hunter constantly looking for that 30 point buck. A large character who loved to make people laugh, mostly at his own expense. "If you can't laugh at yourself, you have no business laughing" he would say. A husband of 55 years, he was his daughter's biggest fan until the granddaughter arrived. He retired from Mueller Copper Fittings at age 62 and spent a good portion following that granddaughter wherever she led him...in between naps and Netflix..if you know you know.
Pop is survived by his wife, Deborah Melton, his daughter Amber Needham, his granddaughter, Ashton Needham, his three sisters, Barbara Stevens, Patricia Frazier and Sharon Greenway (Eddie), one brother, Rick Melton, six nieces and one nephew and now numerous great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Claude Lee Melton and his mother, Frances Lorraine Bohannan Melton.
To honor his wishes, a family graveside service will be held at Poplar Grove Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 26. Following the graveside services, a celebration of life at the Poplar Grove Methodist Church family life center will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, for ALL to come as you are and share stories, laughter, and food. Pop loved good food, great stories and lots of laughter so that is what he would want to see when looking down on us this day.
"A life that touches others goes on forever."
In memory of PopPop, please consider a donation to your favorite charity or pay it forward to someone in need. An organization close to our hearts is the Alzheimer's Association as we have been touched personally by this disease. Also consider a donation to Poplar Grove Methodist Church and/or the Poplar Grove Cemetery fund.