William Merrill

Merrill, William
Wallace
Apr. 29, 1930 - Oct. 13, 2014
William Wallace Merrill, 84, of Sarasota, FL peacefully passed away at his home on October 13, 2014. Bill was born April 29, 1930 in Glencoe, Minnesota to Catherine (Tifft) and William Wesley Merrill. At the age of 15, Bill became an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. He then attended Glencoe High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.
At the University of Minnesota, he served as Commander of the ROTC, played quarterback for the Golden Gophers football team, and was president of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.
While at the University, he met his future wife, LaRue Lobitz. Together they performed during the summer months with the Ski Antics Water Ski Show in the lakes of northern Minnesota. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Bill and LaRue married. Several years later, Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School.
He joined the United States Air Force and attended the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. Bill and LaRue then moved to Turner AFB, a Strategic Air Command base, in Albany, GA, where Bill served as Judge Advocate General (JAG) and USAF Captain.
In 1956, after his military service, Bill and LaRue moved to Sarasota, FL where Bill became a founding partner of the Icard Merrill law firm. Bill served as President of the Sarasota County Bar Association. He was an elder and charter member of Church of the Palms and served as Committee Chairman for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 90. He was a member of the Masons, Shriners, and Jesters. He was also a long time member of the Field Club. Bill was actively involved in real estate development in Sarasota, Georgia, North Carolina, and Nova Scotia, Canada.
He was a private pilot and enjoyed many years of water and snow skiing, fly fishing, and hunting with his three sons. Bill was a constant source of encouragement to his children, grandchildren and friends.
Bill's life on earth with family and friends was a great temporal adventure, but he's now experiencing the greatest adventure of all-eternal fellowship with God who loves Bill because of his trust in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Martha Barto.
Bill is survived by his wife, LaRue; his three sons who love him dearly: William (Karen) of Sarasota, FL, Mark (Susan) of Tampa, FL, and Robert (Danielle) of Santa Monica, CA; and his eight adoring grandchildren: Christine, Katherine, Matthew, Megan, Emily, Hannah, Mark, Jr., and Grant.
A service celebrating Bill's life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 20, 2014 in the sanctuary at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239. A private interment with military honors will be held at Sarasota National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be sent to Family First 5509 West Gray Street, Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33609 or made online at www.FamilyFirst.net.
Toale Brothers Funeral Homes, Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.