Obituary: Merriman, Robert Joel “Bob”
Age 87
Bob was born September 16, 1925 in Sioux City, Iowa, to Walter and Edith Merriman.
He graduated from East High School in Sioux City, IA, and enlisted in the Navy in September of 1943.
He was assigned to the USS Iowa, and served as a Fire Control person, directing fire from the ships 16 inch guns.
He participated in all of the USS Iowa’s naval engagements during World War II.
He was awarded eight Battle Stars, as well as the Philippine Liberation Medal.
Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he attended Morningside College where he received an engineering degree.
He married Olga Y. Shuda in 1948.
He and his wife had three children, Marjorie Jean, Robert Douglas, and Janis Ellen.
He retired in 1990 after working 39 years in the engineering field, 35 of those years as a principal engineer in the electrical/instrumentation division for several Hanford Contractors in Richland, WA.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Burton Merriman, as well as Doris Merriman and Maxine Lussier Merriman.
He is survived by his children, Marjorie Jean Shavlik and her husband, Ron; Robert Douglas Merriman and his wife, Mary Lynn; Janis Ellen Merriman and her partner, Robin McClymonds ; his grandchildren, Steven Douglas Merriman and Ann Elyse Merriman; niece and nephews, Bobbi Lee McClain, Brent Merriman and Brian Merriman; as well as Doris Merriman’s children, Ron Babick, Gary Babick, Ray Babick, Laurelie McCance, and Jacquie DeHoff, as well as their extended family of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend warmest thanks to Bernadette McBride and the staff at Legacy House in Kennewick, WA., as well as The Chaplaincy’s Hospice team, for their loving care and compassion to Bob over the last many months.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, December 6, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Spokane’s Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, as well as a graveside service on Friday, December 7, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Greenwood Memorial Terrace Cemetery in Spokane, WA.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Kennewick, WA.
Donations in Bob’s name can be made to the Hospice program at The Chaplaincy, 1480 Fowler, Richland, WA 99352, or First Presbyterian Church, 2001 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336.