George "Glitch" Mellone III

1980 - 2012

Salinas

George "Glitch"

Mellone III

George "Glitch" Mellone III of Salinas, son of Evelyn and George Mellone II, left this world Sunday, April 8, 2012. He is survived by wife, Kari Paulson-Mellone; older sister, Beth Mellone; and younger sister, Mary Mellone. George attended Winham Street Christian Academy, and joined the Marine Corps just after graduating from high school in 1999, attending boot camp in San Diego.

In 2001, George joined ATCMB (Air Traffic Control Maintenance Branch) as an aviation electronics technician and was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In that same year, he met Kari Paulson, the girl who in 2003 became Kari Mellone. In 2004, finishing his enlistment, he made a slight career change by helping to coordinate an airshow at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. The airshow had not taken place for years, so he had to put an amazing amount of work into the coordination of this event, and for his efforts he was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal.

In 2005, George started his undergraduate degree at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, with a major in Aviation Management, earning his private, instrument, commercial, and tail-dragging ratings. He also joined the Marine Reserves in Wahpeton, ND, was promoted to Staff Sergeant, took on the role of Platoon Sergeant and later became Commander of the unit. During his time at UND, he attended OCS (Officer Candidate School), serving as a key leader at each session, and went back to Hawaii to assist with the next airshow, this time as a Coordinator.

In 2007, George graduated from UND and was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps. In 2008, he served as a Platoon Leader and graduated in the top 10% of his class at The Basic School, Quantico, VA. He spent the rest of 2008 in Pensacola, FL, doing API (Aviation Preflight Indoctrination) and watching the Blue Angels practice. The next move was to VT-27 in Corpus Christi, TX, as a student naval aviator where he completed Primary Training in the T-34, earning a spot in jet school.

VT-22, in Kingsville, TX, was a highlight of George's life: the friends, the civilian flying, and the military flying could not be beat. In 2010, he was winged as a Naval Aviator and given the role of Harrier pilot for the United States of America. He started that role with VMAT-203 in Cherry Point, NC, and his most recent assignment was VMAT-214, the famous Black Sheep, in Yuma, AZ.

George lived one of the most vibrant and full lives a person can live in 32 short years. He was an inspiration, mentor, and active encouragement to a countless number of people and all that energy will live on.

Funeral Celebration will be held today, Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 3:00 p.m., at the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church, 526 California St., Salinas.

Burial will follow at a later date at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL.

Funeral arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.

Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com