Celebrating the life of Colonel Neil F. Merlin (USAF) Retired
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Obituary for Colonel Neil F. Merlin (USAF) Retired
Alexandria, VA Colonel Neil F. Meurlin (USAF Retired) passed away on Veteran’s Day at 89 years old. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 5, 1923. He enlisted in the Army in 1942, received his commission in 1944 and participated in the Pacific Theater during WWII, fighting in the battle of Okinawa. He was one of the founders of the Vermont National Guard, “The Green Mountain Boysâ€. They were first called to active duty for the Korean War and have served in every major conflict since. He served tours in Udine and Aviano Italy, the Pentagon, Ankara, Turkey, Wheelus AFB, Tripoli, Libya and Denver, CO. While at Wheelus he served as Vice Base Commander and during 1967 Mid-East War he led the evacuation of more than 6000 dependents to safe havens. He retired after thirty years of service. He then went on to be an officer of Home Federal Savings & Loan, Washington, DC for nine years. He received a BS in Economics from the University of Vermont and a MBA from Michigan State University. Among other groups, he was a member of Ethan Allen Lodge F&AM, Sinai Temple AAONMS and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church for over 30 years where he served as an Elder and Deacon. Colonel Meurlin’s wife of 58 years, Phyllis Wood Meurlin, predeceased him in 2005. Together they had two sons, Keith Wood of Oak Hill, VA and Craig Neil of Grand Rapids, MI, their wives, Beth Constantinides and Rhonda Farr, four grandchildren, Ethan, Tyler, Jeffrey and Rebecca Kaufman and seven great-grandchildren, Murdoch, Caroline, Harrison, Lilian, Grace, Liam and Adelaide. A memorial service was held November 17, 2012 at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA. A graveside service with Military Honors will be held in the spring on Memorial Day weekend at Georgia Plains Cemetery with a date and time to be announced later. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, SOAR Program, Sherwood Lane, Alexandria, VA 22309. Arrangements are by Heald Funeral Home, St. Albans, VT. Online condolences may be sent to www.healdfuneralhome.com
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