Trent “Coach” Melder passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Visitation with family and friends will be at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, Friday, June 12, 2015 from 5:00 pm – 8:oo pm. A funeral service honoring Coach will be held at the First Baptist church of Natchitoches, 508 Second street, Natchitoches, LA, 71457, on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 11:oo am with Rev. Thomas Rush and Rev. Perry Webb officiating. An additional visitation will start at 10:00 am until service time on Saturday. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. 

Trent was born September 6, 1923 as the fifth of eleven children to Joe and Effie Melder. After graduating high school from Glenmora, Trent answered the call to serve his country in the Navy during WWII. He was extremely proud that all six of his brothers also answered that call, serving in the Navy, Army, and Coast Guard, during WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. 

After returning from his stint as a gunner’s mate on the Acubans supply ship in the South Pacific, Trent entered Northwestern State College on the G.I. Bill. He later received a Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas and a Doctor of Education from the University of Wyoming. 

The education of young people was Trent’s life’s work and passion. He taught math and science to eighth graders and then coached football at Natchitoches Central High School for twenty years. He later served as principal of Natchitoches Central, North Elementary (now L.P. Vaughn), and Robeline School as well as a supervisor of the Title 1 program for the Natchitoches Parish School board. He was honored to be called “Coach” by many students and former football players. 

Trent loved his family, traveling with them and taking his boys hunting and fishing. He was an avid golfer and played with a host of friends as well as his daughter. After retirement he and his wife were able to travel extensively both in the United States and in Europe where he spent time with family in Belgium. He enjoyed gardening and delighted in showing off his vegetable garden and sharing its yield with family and friends. 

He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of First Baptist Church of Natchitoches for over fifty years, first serving with his wife as a leader of a college Training Union department and later as a director of Adult II Sunday School department. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Edgar Melder and Effie Stokes Melder; one granddaughter, Skye McFarland; four brothers, J.C. Melder, J.T. Melder, Eddie Melder, and Harold Melder; and two sisters, Irma Melder and Mittie Funderburk Kay. 

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years, Ellis Marie Weaver Melder of Natchitoches; son, Mark Osborn Melder and wife Sarah McFarland; son, James Trent Melder and wife Kimberly; daughter, Sara Melder Bond and husband Bobby. He was “Pop” to eight grandchildren, Matthew Joseph Melder, John-Robert Weaver Bond, William Barden Bond, Patrick Melder Bond, Julia Elizabeth Bond, Griffin John McFarland, Mason Thomas Melder, and Madelyn Leigh Melder. He is also survived by four siblings, brother, L.J. Melder and wife Gay, brother, Jody Melder and wife Pauline, sister, Jackie Murphy, and sister, Lynn Herbert. He was also known as Uncle Trent to a multitude of nieces and nephews. 

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Matthew Melder, Bobby Bond, John-Robert Bond, William Bond, Patrick Bond, Griffin McFarland, Mason Melder, and Dusty Keller. Honorary pallbearers are his former fellow coaches of Natchitoches High School, his golfing buddies, and all his former football players, especially the BOFA group. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in honor of his memory to the Legacy Fund of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, the Northwestern State University Athletic Association, or to the charity of one’s choice.