Ralph Edward Merritt Sr.
Ralph Edward Merritt Sr., 84, of Lucasville, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center.
He was born September 26, 1938 in Lucasville, a son of the late Harold Warner and Bonnie McCorkle Merritt.
Ralph was a retired Conductor/Engineer for the Norfolk & Southern Railroad, a 1956 Valley High School graduate where he was an All State Basketball player, and a member of Scioto Baptist Church. He was a longtime Valley Athletic Booster, lifelong fan of Valley Athletics, and a former volunteer firefighter for the Valley Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Ralph was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving with the 31st Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He also served as a Paratrooper with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Sandy Merritt, July 6, 2022; one daughter, Connie Johnson; one son, J.D. Merritt; one brother, Carl Merritt Sr.; and one sister, Betty Jackson.
Ralph is survived by two sons, Rick (Elizabeth) Merritt of Richmond Hill, GA, and Ralph (Joyce) Merritt Jr. of Lucasville; seven grandchildren, TJ Johnson, Haley Merritt, Courtnie (Loren) Kuhn, Lindsey Merritt, Tucker Merritt, Bonnie Merritt, and Kacie Hickerson; nine greatgrandchildren, Kenzie, Trevon, Bailey, Kori, Caleb, Hayden, Gracie, Jaxson, and Jayden; one brother, Larry (Frances) Merritt of Lucasville; three sisters, Janet Osborne of Sciotoville, Laquita (Gary) Abrams of Lucasville, Rita (Roger) Doran of LaGrange, KY; and sister-in-law Louise Merritt of Lucasville.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at the Scioto Baptist Church on Cockrell’s Run Road with Kevin Green and Gary Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Lucasville Cemetery where graveside military rites will be performed by the William Baker and James F. Irwin Posts of the American Legion. Friends may call from Noon until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the McKinley Funeral Home in Lucasville.
