Neal W. Merrill

"> Neal W. Merrill
Neal W. Merrill, 85, of Bethlehem, passed away Monday, February 15, 2010, while in the care of St. Lukes Hospice House. He and his wife Suzanne (Decker) Merrill shared more than 54 years of marriage. Born in Portland, ME, he was the son of the late George D. and Ruby (Wilson) Merrill. Neal was a World War II veteran having served in the Army Air Force as 2nd Lt. and was a B-24 Pilot. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine in 1949. Neal worked as Manager of Reinforcing Bar Fabricating shops for Bethlehem Steel for 33 years, retiring in 1982. A US Patent was awarded to Bethlehem Steel Corp. for an automatic stop setting device for reinforcing bar-bending machines. He was a member of the Sky Ten Club in which ten pilots owned a Cessna plane. He was able to fly to the various shops for Bethlehem Steel. Neal was a member of the Hanover Township for the Preservation of Big Band Sounds of America in which he played the trumpet. He built a prefabricated cottage on Lake Wallenpaupack where his family has enjoyed many summers and he enjoyed sailing a 23 Hunter. Neal was a snow skier and enjoyed a game of Bridge. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, and had been a trustee and member of a koinonia fellowship group. Survivors: Wife; daughter, Lynn M. Wiggins and her husband Mark of Delran, NJ; son, Dwight K. Merrill and his wife Debra of Oxford, MI; four grandchildren. Neal was preceded in death by his sister Madeline Tole in 2007. Services: Funeral services will be Friday, February 19, at 12 noon in First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St, Bethlehem, where friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of service. Arrangements entrusted to the Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem. Online condolences may be made at www.longfuneralhome.com Contributions: In lieu of flowers, to First Presbyterian Church, 18017.