1935
Gene
2007
Gene Merritt
May 4, 1935 — September 8, 2007
Gene Raymond Merritt, 72, of Eldora, died at his home from natural causes on Saturday, September 08, 2007. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at the Eldora United Methodist Church in Eldora, with Pastor Richard Boatman officiating. Following cremation, burial will be at a later date in Kalona, Iowa. Visitation will be at the church prior to the services on Wednesday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.
Gene was born May 4, 1935, in Pierce City, Missouri, son of Frank Raymond and Lucy Josephine (Carver) Merritt. He moved with his family to Pasadena, California when he was five, then graduated from John Muir High School and Pasadena Jr. College in 1954. Gene served in the U. S. Marine Corp from 1954 ? 1966 as a fighter pilot attaining the rank of Captain.
On August 31, 1956 he was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Quick in Pasadena. Gene owned and operated several retail paint businesses in Pasadena before coming to Iowa in 1978 to manufacture and sell paint. On April 1, 1995 he moved to Eldora where he purchased Merritt Mobile Home Park.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Julia Swallow and her husband Raymond of Covina, California, and Jennifer Smith and her husband Chris of San Diego, California; daughter-in-law, Regina Merritt of Kalona, Iowa; sister, Tonia Brooks of Pasadena; and by 10 grandchildren and a great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Jeff Raymond and Joel Richard; and sister, Molly McWee.
Gene was born May 4, 1935, in Pierce City, Missouri, son of Frank Raymond and Lucy Josephine (Carver) Merritt. He moved with his family to Pasadena, California when he was five, then graduated from John Muir High School and Pasadena Jr. College in 1954. Gene served in the U. S. Marine Corp from 1954 ? 1966 as a fighter pilot attaining the rank of Captain.
On August 31, 1956 he was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Quick in Pasadena. Gene owned and operated several retail paint businesses in Pasadena before coming to Iowa in 1978 to manufacture and sell paint. On April 1, 1995 he moved to Eldora where he purchased Merritt Mobile Home Park.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Julia Swallow and her husband Raymond of Covina, California, and Jennifer Smith and her husband Chris of San Diego, California; daughter-in-law, Regina Merritt of Kalona, Iowa; sister, Tonia Brooks of Pasadena; and by 10 grandchildren and a great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Jeff Raymond and Joel Richard; and sister, Molly McWee.
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