William H. Merritt

WILLIAM H. "BILL" MERRITT, 89, died at 12:30 a.m. February 20, 2006, at St. Rita's Medical Center. He was born November 29, 1916, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Leon B. and Louise Holdridge Merritt, who preceded him in death. On December 24, 1941, he married Kathleen McKinley, who survives in Elida, Ohio. Mr. Merritt retired in 1983, as president of Lima Lumber, Auglaize Lumber, Paducah Lumber Co., Paducah, Kentucky, and Shook Lumber, Hickory, N.Carolina, where he continued to serve as a director for 20 years. He served as vice president and director of Wolfe Industries. He also served as president, director and chief appraiser of Southside Building & Loan, where he was responsible for the construction of the new building at 930 W. Market St. After retiring from the lumber industry, he worked on his Mills Road farm, was involved with trotter horses and ran the Fort Amanda Gun Club. He served on the Allen County Conservation District Board for 10 years, where he was awarded a plaque for his service from 1945 to 1985. He also received a Wildlife Conservation Award from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of wildlife management and recreation in Allen County in 1970. He was a member of Market Street Presbyterian Church and attended Lima Baptist Temple. He was a life member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 54, a member of Lodge 585 Free & Accepted Masons, former president of the Northwest Ohio Contractors Association and a 40-year member of the Shawnee Country Club. He was an original member of the Lima Optimist Club, where he was an original promoter of the Allen County Optimist Home Show. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a graduate of Miami University and of Harvard Business College, Boston. He was an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, serving from January 18, 1943, to March 16, 1946, as a major. He was a statistical officer in the War Department, Washington, D.C., and served in the African Middle East Theater under Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton. He will be deeply missed by his loving family. They were truly blessed to have him in their lives all these years. He was greatly loved by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors also include three daughters, Susan Louise (Mike) Fritchie and Sally Ann Merritt, both of Lima, Ohio, and Sandra Kay Chambers of Clearwater, Florida; and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Terrance Martin Merritt; and three sisters, Mary Ann "Ki" Baughman, Lenore Max Merritt and Margaret "Peg" Haskell. Private family graveside services will be held at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetery with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275. The Rev. Michael Jenkins will officiate. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association/Ohio Valley, P.O. Box 634445, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263-4445; or the American Cancer Society, 616 S. Collett St., Lima, Ohio 45805 Condolences may be sent to www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com Arrangements are by Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home