Jude William Melton-Houghton, age 20, died suddenly on February 1, 2023, after an excruciating mental health struggle. He had a brilliant mathematical, scientific, and philosophical mind and was valedictorian of the Brattleboro Union High School class of 2020. Jude also had a beautiful heart. He was surpassingly kind and thoughtful, and had a delightful and quirky sense of humor. Jude was a talented visual artist, as well as a creative and innovative software developer. He had been working in the software field since the age of 15. He kept his light under a bushel, but everyone who knew him could see it and feel it blazing.

Jude has left behind many grieving loved ones, including his parents, David Houghton and Paula Melton; his siblings, Ada Melton-Houghton and Cassandra Melton-Houghton; his grandparents, Leah Higginbotham, Jeanne Houghton, Mary Jane Melton, and Paul David Melton; his aunts, Kristie Houghton, Mary Catherine Melton, and Cynthia Parker-Houghton; his uncles, Kevin Houghton and Rolf Parker-Houghton; his cousins, Amanda Harris, Mica Houghton, Skyler Houghton, Buddy Jackson, Morgen Parker-Houghton, and Laila Woodruff; dear family friends, Jasper Guyette, Melissa Haertsch, Jamie Hammarlund, the Stratton Treadway family, Phyllida Whittaker, and St. John Whittaker; and many other relatives, friends, acquaintances, teachers, mentors, and colleagues, all of whom will miss his insight, intelligence, and thoughtfulness.

Jude’s family warmly welcomes cards from those who knew him. Send cards to The Melton-Houghton Family at 1108 Western Ave., Brattleboro, Vermont, 05301. In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging charitable donations in Jude’s memory. He taught himself to program at an early age through Khan Academy (khanacademy.org). Jude was a core developer for the open source game Minetest (minetest.net); gifts in his honor can be sent to the founder, celeron55, to support the group’s work. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline (988lifeline.org) works to prevent lives like Jude’s being cut short. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.