Florence Melton
- Category : 1911-births
- Type : GP
- Profile : 1/3 - Investigating / Martyr
- Definition : Split - Small (48)
- Incarnation Cross : RAX The Sphinx 4
Biography
American inventor and businesswoman known for innovating the foam-soled and washable slipper. More than 1 billion of these slippers have been sold.
Melton co-founded the R.G. Barry Corporation in 1946 with her first husband, Aaron Zacks. While investigating foam latex as a possible material for her patented women's shoulder pad, she discovered that she could use the material to line slippers. Marketed first as Angel Treads and later as Dearfoams, Melton's slippers were immediately successful.
In 1968, she married industrialist and philanthropist Samuel M. Melton. Together, they created the "Florence Melton Adult Mini-School," a two-year, non-denominational program, which operates in over 70 North American communities, Australia and South Africa.
In the mid 1980s, Melton initiated the "Discovery" program, which attempts to connect youths to their family ancestry, community, different denominations in Judaism, and to Israel. The program involves extensive field trips and culminates in a tour to Israel.
Florence Zacks Melton married twice and had two sons. She died on 8 February 2007 at age 95.