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In Loving Memory of
Edward Philip Mertz, Sr.
MERTZ,
SR. EDWARD PHILIP, 81 (known as “Captain” to his friends), USMC (Ret),
of
Pearisburg
,
VA.
Captain lost his battle with
Parkinson’s disease on September 29, 2005.
He is now reunited in heaven with his loving wife, Ruth.
Mr. Mertz was born in
Greensburg
,
PA
on August 4, 1924 and was a son of the late Frank and Eleanor Mertz.
Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three
sisters; Esther Fultz, Violet Resslar and Mildred Klingensmith.
Ed retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1966 after 23
years of service. He served in
WWII,
Korea
and
Viet Nam
as a Plane Commander. He flew
the N/2S (1946). S-NJ, S-NB, F-4U Corsair, R-4D, F-6F, F-8F, AD Skyraider,
OY, OE, R-SD, KC-130 Hercules, including flying the last KC-130 from
Okinawa, Japan to Fatima, Japan. In
1964, he broke the sound barrier flying the F9-FS.
He was a member of the Navy Tailhook Association, Retired
Officer’s Association, Silver Eagles Association, and Marine Corps
Mustang Association. He was
active for many years in volunteer work including being bestowed with the
Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America, and serving as past
president of the Havelock High School Booster Club and the Craven County
Community Concert Association. After
his retirement from the USMC, he worked in management for 21 years at
Hatteras Yachts in
New Bern
,
NC
. He was a faithful member of
the St. Timothy Lutheran Church in
Havelock
,
NC
and
Redeemer
Lutheran
Church
in
Pearisburg
,
VA.
Ed Mertz is survived by his
sister Alma Hood; five sons, E. Philip Mertz of Richmond, VA, David Mertz
of Pearisburg, VA, Jonathan Mertz of Madison Heights, VA, and Timothy
Mertz of Richmond, VA; two daughters, Deborah Moody of Clover, SC and
Cheryl Mertz of Pearisburg, VA; 14 grandchildren, Sarah, Kristen, Dana,
Fred, Gary Edward, Cheryl, Paul, Stephen, Michael, Jonathan, Ruth, Sam,
Edward and Alex; 2 great-grandchildren, Hayden and Emma.
The family will receive friends at Givens Funeral Home on Saturday
evening, October 1, 2005, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral
services will be held Sunday, October 2, 2005 at 2:00pm in the Chapel of
Givens Funeral Home with Rev. Diane Jackson officiating.
Burial will follow at
Birchlawn
Burial
Park
in Pearisburg, with full military honors.
The family requests that those wishing to send memorial
contributions to please consider Giles Adult Day Services at
701 Wenonah Avenue
,
Pearisburg
,
VA
24134
, Attn: Kaye Johnson (in honor of Captain Mertz).
If you would like to send your
condolences to the family via Givens Funeral Home, simply sign the Memorial
Guestbook by clicking the link. Your condolences will be printed
out and given to the family.
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