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Karl F. Merritt

Karl Francis Merritt, 76, of North Manchester, IN, and having family members in Huntington, IN, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014.

Mr. Merritt graduated from Central High School in 1956. He earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from Manchester College in 1960 and received a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1964.

He taught and coached for two years at Laketon High School and for 15 years at Manchester High School, where he coached basketball, baseball, golf and football. He was employed as an administrator and basketball coach at Manchester College for 20 years, serving as Student Union director, conference coordinator and alumni director. He served as the announcer for Manchester College football and men’s and women’s basketball for more than 30 years. He retired from the education field in 1996 and began working for Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel in 2000.

He was a member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren. He was a member, past president and Paul Harris Fellow of the Manchester Rotary Club and wrote the Rotary newsletter, “The Turning Wheel,” for more than 40 years. He served on the boards of the Wabash County Hospital Foundation, North Central Region Historic Landmarks, North Manchester Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce and Wabash County United Fund. and was a past president of the Manchester Shepherd’s Center.

Mr. Merritt served four years on the Manchester Community School Board, four years on the town council and several terms as a member of the North Manchester Traffic Commission. He helped develop the Manchester University Hall of Fame in 1994 and was inducted into the hall in 1999. He received a Manchester College Alumni Service Award in 1984, was co-recipient of North Manchester Citizen of the Year award in 2003 and received a Manchester Community Schools Distinguished Alumni award in 2014.

He was born Sept. 18, 1938, in Huntington to Herschel and Mary Ellen Burkhart Merritt. He married Bonnie Dee Freed on Aug. 15, 1959, in North Manchester, and she survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Kirk (Christine) Merritt, of Powell, OH; a daughter, Kristene Deeann Merritt Miller, of Worthington, OH; three granddaughters, Katherine Florence and Elizabeth Haru, both of Powell, OH, and McKenna Liegh, of Worthington, OH; and four sisters, Martha (Vern) Pursifull, of Huntington; Donna Merritt, Rebecca Merritt and Bethany Merritt.

Calling is Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Manchester Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley St., North Manchester. A service will be held at the church on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, at 3 p.m., with calling one hour prior to the service. Rev. Kurt Borgmann will officiate. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester, at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Karl F. and Bonnie Dee Merritt Scholarship Endowment at the Community Foundation of Wabash County, 218 E. Main St., North Manchester, IN 46962 or to the Manchester Church of the Brethren Vocal Music or Video Departments, 1306 Beckley St., North Manchester, IN 46962.

Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, North Manchester, is in charge of arrangements

To sign the online guest book, visit www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.