Obituary of Charles "Chuck" Paul Melcher

<b>Lexington, Kentucky</b> Charles Paul "Chuck" Melcher, age 71, son of George and Velma Melcher, was called home on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 to celebrate Easter forever with his risen Lord face to face. Chuck is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Charlotte Melcher of <b>Lexington, Kentucky</b>. He is also survived by his three treasured children and 5 grandchildren: Deborah Perpetua of Vashon Island, Washington, and her daughter Sequoia; David Melcher and his wife Francesca, and their daughters, Chiara and Emma of Roverto, Italy; and Daniel Melcher of Jupiter, Florida and his wife Rachel, and their son Graeme and daughter Elena. Chuck invested his life in loving God and building people. For 19 years, he and Charlotte worked as staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ, ministering at the University of Georgia, University of Alabama, University of Kentucky and Marshall University. He mentored and encouraged a multitude of students who have since taken the gospel to every continent. One of his joys was working with athletes at these universities and Chuck especially cherished his special relationships with several UK basketball players in 1989, Chuck and his psychologist wife founded Focus on Relationships, Inc., to help hurting, broken people find more peace and joy in their lives. Chuck worked as a relationship coach for 20 years, using Christian principles to help people achieve healthy marriages and families. Chuck read widely and enjoyed humor, UK basketball, photography, traveling to new places and experiencing other cultures. Chuck enjoyed every type of music until the day he died, when he graduated to singing bass with heavenly choirs. Chuck was especially touched by the Bill Gaither Band and other Gospel music. Chuck excelled in basketball, football, and track as a high school athlete in Ulysses, Kansas, and was also a National Merit Finalist and honor student at the University of Kansas. Chuck amazed those who knew him with fantastic memory and knowledge of the Bible, and he retained his interest in learning all his life. Despite the many health challenges present throughout his adult life, Chuck exhibited a great zest for living and engaged with people around him with a warm smile and listening ear. Chuck was a man of faith who remained faithful to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to his marriage vows to Charlotte, the woman with whom he fell in love the first time he met her at age 17. He loved to build strong men and encouraged them to love their God, their wives and their families. Chuck was a Promise Keeper, using his influence to inspire others to a life of faithfulness. Chuck was a founding of Church of the Savior and also a deacon and elder for many years at Southland Christian Church. <b>Funeral Information</b> There will be two services on Saturday, April 11th, to celebrate Chuck's life and his home going. The first will be a 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Savior, 1301 Brannon Road, Nicholasville, Kentucky. This service will be followed by an open mic time until 2 p.m. when friends can share stories and memories about their remarkable friend Chuck. The second service will be at 3 p.m. at Southland Christian Church, main campus, 5001 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville, Kentucky. The family will be available after the service to interact with friends who attend.