Dean Warren Melcher, 57, of Tiverton, passed away at home on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. He was the husband of Nancy Annette Melcher. Born in Newport, he was a son of the late George S. Melcher and the late Eleanor Melcher. He attended Tiverton High School.

Dean was inducted into the Army at age 17 and retired after 24 years of service. He will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full Military Honors. While stationed with the Army in Georgia he met Nancy in Columbus, and they were married on April 14, 1980. They had three children whom he supported throughout all of their endeavors.

After he retired from the Army he went to work for the United States Postal Service. Employed by the U.S.P.S. as a rural letter carrier, he was the district representative for the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and also served as vice president of the Rural Letter Carriers’ of Rhode Island. He was devoted to his family and had a passion for propagating roses.

Dean was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2013. He had two surgeries during this time period and remained strong and hopeful until the end. “That he would beat this!” is what he said several times during the process of his cancer.

In addition to Nancy, his wife of 34 years, he leaves three sons, George S. Melcher, Dana W. Melcher and Dean W. Melcher I, all of Tiverton; three brothers, Dennis W. Melcher and Darryl W. Melcher, both of Somerset, Mass., and Dwayne W. Melcher of Charlestown, Mass.; a sister, Dianne W. (Melcher) Norris of Rexburg, Idaho, and many nieces and nephews. On his wife’s side he leaves Hyson Roth Cromer of Gainesville, Fla.; his three sisters-in-law, Kathy Wright (husband Jeffery)  of Midland Ga., and Debra Roth and Sally Roth Henderson, both of Columbus, Ga., and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the family from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, at the Silva-Faria Funeral Home, 730 Bedford Street, Fall River. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 PM following the conclusion of the waking period.

Services at Arlington National Cemetery for MSG Dean Warren Melcher, U.S. Army, Ret., will commence at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Guests planning to attend the committal in Arlington are asked to report to the Chapel at the National Cemetery 45 minutes early (at 8:15 a.m.).