RALPH D. MERRITT JR.
March 28, 1926-Nov. 9, 2013
Ralph DeLeon "Monk" Merritt Jr., 87, passed away Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Monk was born in Duplin County March 28, 1926, to the late Ralph Deleon Merritt Sr. and Lila Spell Merritt.
He proudly served his country in the Third Infantry Division of the United States Army during World War II, and was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Monk retired from AT&T after 37 years of service. He started as a telephone lineman when he returned from World War II, and rose quickly through the company to eventually be the manager of all residential and commercial installation and repair for the eastern part of the state.
Monk was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
He was also a member of Wayne Masonic Lodge No. 112 A.F. and A.M., Sudan Shrine Temple, Wrecking Crew and Goldsboro Elks Lodge No. 139 B.P.O.E.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013, in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bobby Heath officiating. Entombment will be at 2 p.m. in Devotional Gardens in Warsaw.
Monk is survived by his wife, Millie Merritt; his son, Le Merritt of Goldsboro; daughters, Jo Ann Ward of Fort. Lauderdale, Fla., Cindy Roughgarden and husband, Frank, of Greensboro and Pat Wilkins and husband, John, of Raleigh; and his grandchildren, Branan Roughgarden, Matthew Roughgarden, Jackson Wilkins and Emma Wilkins.
He is also survived by his brother, J.B. Merritt of Duplin County.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jo Merritt also of Duplin County.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at Seymour Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, N.C., 27534.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 10, 2013 11:53 AM