Retired L.A. County Probation Officer and long-time Laguna resident, Jim Melton, died on Saturday, October 12th after a lengthy illness at home in Laguna hills with his wife, Leda and step-daughters, Maha, Elyse and AJ nearby. He was 71.

James Oliver Melton III was born in Los Angeles, CA on November 29, 1941 to James Melton II and Ruby Lee Wentworth. He attended elementary school in Pasadena then Arcadia, CA and graduated from Arcadia High School in 1959. Jim attended Pasadena City College and Northern Arizona State University in Flagstaff before transferring to and graduating from Cal State L.A. in 1965. A Few years later he met and married his first wife, Linda, and together they raised their daughter, Naomi, and son, Josh, in Laguna Niguel before the marriage ended.

By working 3-day shifts in probation camps in Malibu and Newhall Jim was required to make the 40-60 mile commute to work only once a week, making it possible to live in the south coast communities of San Clemente, Dana Point and Laguna Beach over the years. Jim was a regular on the volleyball and basketball courts on main beach during the 60s and 70s. He was an avid reader, movie-buff and outdoorsman and was often seen walking the hills of Laguna with a friend. in 2007, Jim met and married Leda and in 2012, Leda's daughters immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines to live with their mother and her new husband.

In addition to his wife and step-daughters, Jim is survived by daughter, Naomi Dupre and grandson, Landon and granddaughter, Alyse of Colorado, and son, Josh Melton of New Orleans, LA. On November 9th family and friends will gather at Heisler Park to remember and celebrate Jim's life and their lives with Jim.