 1918 - 2014 (96 years)
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| Name |
Carl Zeller Merkey |
| Born |
07 Mar 1918 |
Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
02 Apr 2014 |
Sinking Spring, Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Buried |
14 Apr 2014 |
Salem Reformed Church Cemetery, Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Person ID |
I099272 |
Strausstown Roots | Stupp.M, ~HasslerFreeman |
| Last Modified |
8 Apr 2014 |
| Father |
David D Merkey, b. 06 Dec 1881, Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania , d. 16 Jul 1960, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania (Age 78 years) |
| Mother |
Dora E Zellers, b. 26 Mar 1883, Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania , d. 02 Apr 1967, West Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania (Age 84 years) |
| Married |
20 Sep 1902 |
Bernville, Berks County, Pennsylvania |
| Family ID |
F52008 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Claire E Lengel, b. 25 Feb 1920, Ravine, Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania , d. 22 Feb 2004, Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania (Age 83 years) |
| Children |
| | 1. Kenneth Merkey, b. 11 Oct 1937, Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania , d. 20 Mar 1938, Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania (Age 0 years) |
|
| Last Modified |
14 Jul 2015 |
| Family ID |
F44304 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
-
| Sources |
- [S2] Reading Eagle, on-line edition, 08 Apr 2014.
Carl Zeller Merkey, 96, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2014 in the Sinking Spring Manor Care Health Services facility.
Born in Pine Grove March 7, 1918, he was the son of David and Dora Zeller Merkey. His wife, Claire Lengel Merkey, passed away in 2004. She was the daughter of Sallie and Clarence M. Lengel of Ravine, Pa.
Surviving are his son, Dale Merkey of Virginia Beach, VA.; grandchildren Stacey Roach, wife of Donald Roach of Virginia Beach, VA; and Douglas Merkey of St. Louis, MO; and two great-grandchildren, Katie and Mallory Roach.
Carl and Claire were the youngest and last surviving children in their respective families. Claire's family included: Walter Lengel, Elva Lengel, Leah Schneck, Pearl Olt and Hilda Kleinfelter. Carl's family included: Milton Merkey, Carrie Klopp, Paul Merkey and Mary Merkey.
After graduating from Pine Grove High School and serving in the United States Army National Guard, Carl transferred to the Army Air Force and was a WW II Combat Veteran from 1943 to 1945, serving with the 339th Air Service Squadron in the African-Italian Campaign. He earned several military awards, including two stars for the critical Salerno and Monte-Cassino Monastery battles.
After the war, Carl began a long, successful professional career that included private businesses and management positions in large public schools. In partnership with his father, he owned and operated the Bethel Transit Company, Bethel, Pa., and later opened the Tropical Treat ice cream business at the intersections of Rt 501 and 78 in Bethel and then the Golly Farms Restaurant in Lebanon, Pa.
In 1960 he became the Wilson School District Supervisor of Transportation in Sinking Spring, Pa. and then Central Dauphin School District, Harrisburg, Pa., followed by the Alfred I. DuPont and Claymont School Districts in Delaware. He successfully managed the challenges of the 1978-1980 desegregation/school realignment challenges. In 1982 he and his wife relocated to Pine Grove, Pa., to begin their retirement years together.
Carl received many awards including three degrees and High Professional Honors from the National Safety Council. He also completed extensive programs at the University of Maryland, Delaware and Penn State where he received certification in Pa. State Budget Requirements.
He was a Life Member of the Pine Grove VFW Post 3432, the Foreign Service Club, American Legion Post 374, and the Williamson Masonic Lodge, Womelsdorf, Pa. As an active member of the Association of American Weather Observers, he received the 1988 Pa. Observer of the year award associated with the WHTM TV station of Harrisburg, Pa.
He was also listed in the initial Marquis Who's Who Record of United States School District Officials, and a charter member of the National Association of School Bus Transportation.
A service of memories will be held at the H.L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., 139 S. Tulpehocken Street, Pine Grove, Pa., (570-345-2266) on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Cynthia Kennett officiating, followed by a short interment service at the Salem Reformed Church of Bethel Cemetery, Bethel, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salem Reformed Church of Bethel, c/o Linda Bailey, 421 N. College Street, Myerstown, PA 17067, where Carl and his wife, Claire, were longtime members.
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