Dr. Anthony Dennis Merklinger

Dr. Anthony Dennis Merklinger, ("Dennis") age 86, of Virginia Beach, passed away at home on March 13, 2026.

Merely listing when he was born, who he is survived by and what his education and profession was, does not come close to capturing the love and dedication he gave to his family and the kindness, intelligence and creativity he brought into this world.

People called him by many names for different reasons: Merk, Doc Merk, Dennis, Big D, Denny, Dad or Grandpa, but they all loved and respected Dennis Merklinger.

Dennis was born on May 16, 1939, in Newark, NJ, to Anthony A. and Joyce Merklinger. As a scholar and an athlete, he graduated high school from the Hill School in Pottstown, PA. He was later honored by his school when inducted into its Hall of Fame for both football and wrestling. Attending the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, VA, on a football scholarship, Merk played and lettered in an unheard of four sports in college. Although he told his children he played so many sports because he wanted to avoid marching, they knew that to start and excel in all four sports, including winning the Southern Conference wrestling championship, required more talent, effort and dedication than to merely be an excuse to get out of drill.

Dennis met his future wife of 62 years, Mary Linda Standing of VA Beach, while attending VMI but started dating when he was attending a brother rats wedding nearby. After graduating from VMI, Doc Merk went on to study dentistry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he graduated with a D.M.D. degree. The couple married while Dennis was still in dental school. After a brief stint in New Jersey, Dennis moved his family and practice to his wife's hometown of Virginia Beach, VA, where they raised a family of four children.

As a dentist, Doc Merk was innovative. Converting his Winnebago into a dental office, he created one of the first mobile dentist offices in the country so parents would not have to take their children out of school to go to the dentist. Doc Merk brought the dentist office to the children. When the mobile office was not available, he had drivers pick up children from school to bring them to the dentist. Understanding the constraints on parents time, he offered a paging service at his office in Pembroke Mall so parents could shop while their child was in the dental chair. He identified the inefficiencies of outsourcing dental lab work, and brought the lab in-house, eliminating the cost of an outside lab and reducing the turnaround time. His "One Day" dentures practice became so popular that groups of patients would organize bus trips, traveling from other states to be treated by Doc Merk.

As a father, Dennis excelled. He gave his time to his family; he taught, he coached, he cheered; and boy, did he cheer. He spent time taking his children camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, and skiing. Dennis taught by example, whether it was single handedly adding an addition to the house, installing a hot water heater, tightening a barbed wire fence on the family farm in Lexington, VA, or building a bunk bed by his own design, he showed his children how to do things for themselves. As a coach, he guided children in football, baseball and wrestling, with a goal of showing them how to properly play and instilling a love for the sport. As a leader of his family's fan club, it was his mission to watch his children, and later on grandchildren, in any activity they were engaged in doing. He would go to baseball, soccer, basketball, football, rugby, lacrosse, field hockey, wrestling, and dance. Whether the temperature was 100 degrees or snowing, if a child or grandchild was involved, he wanted to be there; and he made his presence known. He might be the only fan to cheer for his daughter in goal, even when the ball was at the other end of the field. During wrestling season, his "cheering" was so loud that he was requested to sit in the highest bleacher seat, as far away from the mat as possible. Apparently, some referees did not appreciate his instructions as much as his children did.

Arriving as a friend, leaving as family was Dennis' motto for his farm and home. He enjoyed hosting a front yard volleyball tournament of 400 people and sharing his farm with 150 campers for an adventurous journey tubing down the James River. So many people were welcomed annually at the family home that even after he moved away, people still showed up at the old house expecting a Christmas party. Fortunately, the new owners were friends of the Merklingers.

He was honored to serve as the Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus in Lexington, VA, helped to establish the Oyster Roast for the Exchange Club (YSC), volunteered as an official for the Shamrock Marathon, and donated free dental work. He gave without any expectation of something in return. Many people will never know of his generosity. Giving money to friends to pay for their children's college or to help a family buy food for their children, he was always willing.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Linda Merklinger, his children: James Anthony Merklinger (Tiffany), Mt. Pleasant, SC, John Addison Merklinger, Encinitas, CA, Jeffery Dennis Merklinger (Debbie), VA Beach, VA and Megan Carty McCain (Sean), Phoenixville, PA. His sister Gail Greer, Atlanta, GA. His 10 grandchildren: Olivia, Anna, Tyler; Emily, Isabella, Jacob; Max, Bosco, Sylvia; and Kierane. He was preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Joyce Merklinger, and sister, Wendy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 1:30 P.M. at the Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1404 Pacific Ave. Virginia Beach, VA. 23451.