Donald E. Merrill, 87, New Underwood, died Sunday Sept. 24, 2006 at the New Underwood Good Samaritan Center.
Donald is survived by his 2nd wife, Leona J. Kader, Columbus, OH; his daughter Edie and husband Roy Russell Sr., Smethport, PA; 2 sons Loren and wife Mary Merrill, Cocoa, FL; Kenneth Merrill, Columbus, OH; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Gary and wife Dorothy Barber, Denver, CO; Ralph Barber, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; James and wife Rose Barber, Wall, SD; Marvin and wife Lois Barber, Enning, SD and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife Irene Canfield Merrill; his third wife Joanne Barber Merrill; his parents; 1 daughter Connie Merrill Bouchaux; 1 son Kevin Lee Merrill and 1 brother Nelson Merrill.
Donald was born in Nineveh, NY on June 11, 1919 to Alfred and Clara Merrill. As a young man, Donald worked on his father’s farm near Binghamton, NY before entering the US Army in 1942. He served his duty during WWII in the New Heberdies Islands in the Chemical Warfare Unit until he was honorably discharged in January 1945.
He became a skilled auto mechanic for many years, working in Rochester, NY; Tucson, AZ; San Diego, CA and Holly Hill, FL. He later resumed farm work in South Dakota.
