MELANSON, John Edward 83 of Halifax, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2011 at home. Born August 30, 1927 in Sydney, Cape Breton, he was a son of the late Henry and Effie (Jeans) Melanson. He was the youngest and last surviving member in a large family. John was in the army for 11 years and served in Korea in 1953. He worked for a number of years at the Citadel Inn when it first opened, and later at the Dockyard as a painter, until he retired in 1986. John enjoyed hockey, baseball games and especially travelling (cruises and bus tours). He is survived by his wife, the former Marilyn Balcom, whom he married 54 years ago on April 20, 1957 in Paradise, NS; sons, Kim (Margaret) Melanson and Greg Melanson and sister-in-law, Frances Balcom, all from the Halifax and Dartmouth area and several nieces and nephews from the Cape Breton area. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held 2:00PM, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 in the Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, (902) 825-3448, with Rev. John Wilton of the Birch Cove Baptist Church, Halifax, officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Lawrencetown. A reception for family and friends will follow the service. No flowers by request. Donations in memory may be made to a Charity of Choice. Online condolences may be made through: www.middletonfuneralhome.com