Merlin Ralph Myers 1933 - 2017

KETCHUM, MYERS, WHITEHORN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-volunteer (email)
Date: 7/3/2017 at 17:32:30

Onawa Democrat
14 June 2017

Merlin Ralph Myers, age 84 of Blair, NE passed away on Monday, June 5, 2017 at Crowell Memorial Home after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 9, 2017, at the Rush Family Chapel in Onawa, Iowa, with Evangelist Dale Wolf officiating. Burial will follow in the Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa. Military Honors will be provided by the Emery Johnson American Legion Post #481 of Whiting. Visitation will be 10:00 A.M. until service time on Friday, June 9, 2017, at the Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa.

Merlin was born on March 23, 1933, in rural Monona County, IA to Ralph Leo and Anna Irene (Ketchum) Myers. Merlin was raised in Whiting, IA and was baptized at the Whiting Church of Christ when he was 12 years old. He attended Castana and Whiting Schools and graduated from Whiting Community High School in 1951.

Merlin married Phyllis Joan Whitehorn of Onawa, IA at the Naval Air Station Chapel in Pensacola, FL on June 6, 1954. The couple was blessed with three children, Karen Marie, Anthony Jay and Crystal Larae. The family lived in Missouri Valley, Onawa and most of their life in Whiting, IA. Merlin and Phyllis moved to Blair, NE in 2000.

Merlin retired from Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1984 after over 32 years as a telephone technician. He later enjoyed numerous jobs within the Whiting Community including Owner/Operator of Myers Trenching Service and Myers Telephone Service, a janitor at the Whiting Community School, a laborer at ANSCO Seed, a lawn mowing service and at the Extension Office in Anthon, Iowa. He also attended Semi-Truck Driver's School and drove across the country for several years.

Merlin was associated with three different branches of the military, Navy, Marines and Air Force Reserve. In the Navy, he was trained as a medic and was stationed with the Marines in Japan and Okinawa during the Korean War. Later he became a member of the Air Force National Guard and was stationed in Sergeant Bluff, IA for several years. He was also a life-long member of the American Legion.

As an Amateur (HAM) Radio Operator (KA0QZK), he attained the "Extra" Level. One of the highlights of this endeavor was being able to converse with the Cosmonauts and Astronauts on the MIR Space Station as they orbited the earth. While stationed in Okinawa, Merlin taught English to the school children and was a Football Team Manager. He was also a Roller Rink Floor Manager, Sunday School Teacher, Community Santa Claus and an avid Chess/Checker player.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Myers of Blair NE; Children, Tony (Melanie) Myers of College Station TX, Crystal (Dave) Zima of Blair NE; Grandchildren, Nicole (Joseph) Hewitt of Wilton, IA, Jake Harding of Castana, IA, Karleigh Zima of Ann Arbor, MI, Makenzie Zima of Blair, NE, Jonathan (Kriston) Meeks of College Station, TX, Vanessa Romero of College Station, TX; and Great-Grandchildren, Aiden and Oliver Hewitt of Wilton, IA, Jolene and Lyla Meeks of College Station, TX. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce (Burnell) Harding of Turin IA, several in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Marie Harding, his parents, Ralph and Anna Myers, three brothers, Charles, Ben and Russell, a sister, Marilyn Harris, his mother-in-law, June Whitehorn, a niece Jan Griffin and a great-niece, Ashley Griffin.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the loving and patient care extended to Merlin over his 8 ½ years at Crowell Memorial Home in Blair NE.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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