William Marvin Merritt's Obituary
MERRITT, WILLIAM MARVIN - Age 97, Departed this life August 29, 2009 at Madison Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Madison, TN. He was born September 28, 1911 in Nashville, Tennessee. A devoted family man, Mr. Merritt is preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 50 years, Margaret Fortner Merritt; parents, Charles L. Merritt and Margaret V. Merritt; brothers, Herschel Merritt, Ralph L Merritt; sisters, Nora M Huddleston, Mae M. Bush and much loved pet "Little Fella". Survived by daughter, Sheila K. Merritt of Nashville, TN; sister, Lila M. Raggett, of Hendersonville, TN and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Merritt was a member of Eastland Baptist Church for over 65 years and a retiree of THE TENNESSEAN. Mr. Merritt apprenticed to become a master printer through a program with THE TENNESSEAN beginning in 1929 and becoming a fulltime employee in 1932. He took great pride in the fact that he set the front page of the paper over several decades. He retired in 1977 after having spent 40+ years with THE TENNESSEAN with time out for his service in World War II in the Army Medical Corp. After serving his country from 1942 to 1946 he returned to Nashville to resume his duties. He took great pride in the fact he was present when Sillman Evans, owner and publisher of THE TENNESSEAN, flipped a coin to decide which paper would be the Republican or Democratic representative. He felt the newspaper business was in his blood as he was a cousin of Dixon Merritt, the founder of THE NASHVILLE EAGLE, which later became the NASHVILLE BANNER, also owned by Sillman Evans. In 1977 he retired to spend time with his family. Honorary pallbears are: nephews, Edward J Raggett, Donald Bush, Ronald L Bush of Nashville ; nieces, Carol H Farris, Miriam H Teachworth of Birmingham, AL and Lila Jean Jamborsky of Nashville; great nephews, Christopher P. Lindley and Bruce W. Lindley; great-nieces, Lt. Carolyn R Peterson, USN of Mayport FL and Diana R Norris of Nashville friends, H. Joel Holland, of Nashville and Col. E. Phillip Russell, USMC, Retired, of Washington, DC. Graveside services will be conducted Saturday, September 5, 2009, at 2PM from the historic Spring Hill Cemetery with Reverend Don Tassiah officiating. Visitation with the Merritt family will be Saturday from 11am until 1:45PM in the Iris Room of the SPRING HILL FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY
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