Services for Paul Earl Merkel, 88, of Dover, will be at noon Saturday, Nov. 14, at Grace Presbyterian Church, 350 McKee Road, Dover, where friends may call one hour earlier.
Mr. Merkel died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
He was born on Oct. 9, 1921, in Reading, Pa., son of the late Frederick and Winona Herflicker Merkel.
Mr. Merkel served his country in the 8th U.S. Air Force during World War II. He then continued service with the Air Force Reserves retiring with the rank of senior master sergeant.
He most recently retired from Dover Air Force Base civil service where he worked with Ground Power Equipment Services.
He had a great love for music and was an accomplished saxophone player. He played for many bands, including the Bob Wagner Orchestra and the Milford Community Band.
Mr. Merkel was a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church, Dover.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Miriam, and two siblings.
Mr. Merkel is survived by his loving wife of 40 years Gladys Merkel; five children, Catherine Phelps and her husband Glenn of Flagstaff, Ariz., Winona Crist and her husband Jonathan of Elizabethtown, Pa., James T. O’Brien and his wife Theo of Camden, Peggy O’Brien and her husband Jim Ralph of Magnolia, and Michael O’Brien and his wife Christine of Walkersville, Md.; seven grandchildren, Katherine, Brian, Matthew, Andrew, Timothy, James and Kevin; and three great grandchildren.
Burial with full military honors will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901 or Home of the Brave, 6632 Sharps Road, Milford, DE 19963.
Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.
