Merle Franklin STATE

STATE, ROY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/9/2017 at 00:14:07

August 30, 1921 ---- September 30, 2010

Celebrating the life of Merle Franklin State who was born in Gault, [Galt] Iowa August 30, 1921 and passed away September 30, 2010. He is honored by his present wife Anne State of the home, his four sons, Stephen (Karen) State of Greenville, David State of Simpsonville, Glen (Kim) State of Greer, John (Vickie) State of Boiling Springs; twelve grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII as a drill instructor. Stationed in New Orleans, he met and married Rachel Roy also serving in the Army as a WAC. They moved to Iowa and raised a family of four sons before moving to Greer in 1966. His wife Rachel predeceased him in October 1999. He said that God gave him a mission to feed the hungry. Through his hard work, determination and help from many others the Greer Soup Kitchen was founded. It now serves over 150 people daily from its own building. The mayor of Greer has proclaimed Merle State Day on several occasions and a walk is held for the Greer Soup Kitchen in his honor every year in November. Praise be to God for the life of Merle State.

The family is at the home of Glen State, 201 Scarborough Drive, Greer. Visitation will be held 2:00-3:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at Memorial United Methodist Church, conducted by Rev. Arthur Holt, Rev. John Rush and Rev. George Strait. Burial will be a private family service at the gravesite. Honorary escort will be the Ballenger-Duncan Sunday School Class. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greer Soup Kitchen of the Daily Bread Ministries, P.O. Box 2344, Greer, SC 29652.

Greenville News -- Greenville, South Carolina
October 2, 2010