Philson, Merlin Deloit (1926 – 2013)

PHILSON, CHILDS, JENSEN, WALKER, MARSHAL, AMARAL, BROW, GILLESPIE, MCLAURIN, SUNDERLAND, ELLISON, BOCK

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/13/2013 at 23:38:46

Name of deceased: Merlin Deloit Philson

Aged: 87 yrs, 10 days

Residence: Hamilton, MT

Born: June 2, 1926, Harlan, IA

Died: June 12, 2013, Marcus Daily Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Hamilton, MT

Funeral services: Monday, June 17, Hamilton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Committal services at the Victor Cemetery, Hamilton, MT

Survived by: Wife, Patsy Childs Jensen, Great Falls, MT; daughter, Barbara Walker of Orcutt, CA; son, Phillip (spouse, Rhonda) of Yucaipa, CA; grandchildren, Dennis Marshal of Kent, WA., Melinda (spouse, Shane) Amaral of Orcutt, CA; Angelique Philson and Jeremy Philson, both of Yucaipa, CA; great-grandsons, Austin and Colson Amaral; step-children, David Brow of Mashpee, MA., Barbara (spouse, John) Gillispie of Helena, MT. Jennifer McLaurin of San Tan Valley, AZ., and Brian Brow and Joseph Brow, both of Great Falls, MT; 15 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren.

Predeceased by: Parents, James H. and Cecile L. (nee Sunderland) Philson; sister, Virginia; brother, James; infant, sister Jenene; second wife, Barbara (deceased Sep. 6, 2007, Hamilton, MT)

Education: Began high school in San Juan Capistrano, CA, where he served as freshmen class president. After moving to Santa Ana the following year, he completed the last three years of high school in two years, graduating at age 16.

Military: Enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps at age 17; after completing an aerial photography course, he became an instructor for that same course, and served in that position through World War II. Merlin continued his career in the Air Force as a supply sergeant and then as a recruiter. Merlin retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service.

Marriages: (1) Shirley Ellison, 1947, Colorado; they later divorced. (2) Barbara Ann Bock, 1992, location not provided; (3) Patsy Childs Jensen, 2009, Great Falls, MT

Employment: After retiring from serving 26 years in the military, he owned and operated both a second hand store and an auction business.

Hobbies/Interests: information not provided

Source: missoulian.com; ancestry.com; tributes.com; Harlan Tribune on-line