Douglas Jeffrey Meloche

Douglas Jeffrey Meloche (age 61) passed away on June 2, 2024 after being hit by a car while riding his motorcycle. Doug was born on July 2, 1962 in Toms River, NJ and graduated high school in 1980 at Toms River North High School. He attended Benedictine College in Atchison, KS on a football scholarship and due to a sports injury needed to leave in the first year. Doug was a proud American and was passionate about serving his country. He joined the Marine Corps in 1982 and served for 22 years retiring as a Master Sargent. His duty stations included: Marine Barracks in Naples, Italy; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii with Marine Battalion 1/3; Davenport, Iowa as a Recruiter; Twenty-nine Palms, CA with Marine Battalion 1/7; and Gulfport, MS with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 with the Seabees. 

Doug was a lifelong learner and completed his undergraduate degree while in the Marines and earned his Master’s degree later in life. Doug led a life of public service to this country – as a Marine and then as a Federal employee. Upon retirement from the Marines in 2004, Doug began a 20-year career with the Federal Government – first with the USDA at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Gulfport, MS in 2004; then with the USDA Forest Service in Atlanta, GA in 2008; and since 2021 with HUD, Office of Inspector General as a Government Information Specialist.

Doug met his wife, Jan Losby, on a trip to the Soviet Union in 1986 and fell in love, they married in 1997, and created a wonderful, joyful life together for 38 years. They lived in Iowa City, IA; Gulfport, MS; and Powder Springs, GA. Doug was a safe, enthusiastic, and dedicated motorcyclist logging in over 175,000 miles. Every year Doug and his good friends would plan multiple trips to explore the beauty of the U.S. and Canada.

Doug was a beloved husband, son, son-in-law, brother, bother-in-law, uncle, and friend. Doug was an incredibly kind, generous, funny, and smart person. He is deeply missed and he will forever be in our hearts. He touched so many lives and brought happiness to so many people. As his niece described Doug: “He brought out the best in people, you would smile at his stories and laugh at his jokes. He helped me be the best version of myself. He was so full of love and made everyone feel special.”

Preceded in death by his Father (Douglas Maurice Meloche) and his paternal and maternal grandparents. Survived by his wife, Jan Losby; his mother, Dorothy Meloche (nee Posdon); his brother, Jeffrey Meloche and his niece, Zoe Meloche; his parents-in-law Harold and Shirley Losby; his brother-in-law Mike Losby, Kathy Losby (sister-in-law), and niece Catalina Losby; his sister-in-law Lynn Losby, William Meinert (brother-in-law), niece Morgan Meinert and fiance Jake Schulz, and niece Marina Finehout (nee Meinert) and spouse Zack Finehout. 

Doug’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Whitlock Inn, 57 Whitlock Avenue S.W. in Marietta, GA 30064 on July 19, 2024 from 4:00-8:00pm. Friends and family are welcome to join us — if you are planning on attending, please kindly let Lynn Losby know at LLosby@icloud.com. 

In lieu of flowers, these charitable organizations had great meaning for Doug: Wounded Warrior Project and K9s for Warriors.