Leonard Alexander Mervin Sr.

Leonard Alexander Mervin was born on December 21, 1935 to the late Samuel Joseph Mervin and Lola Lee Miller Mervin in Bluefield, West Virginia. He departed his earthly life on September 8, 2016 in Cary, NC after an extensive illness.

An active young man who enjoyed sports and music, Len (as he was affectionately called), developed a love for family as he enjoyed his youth with his brother Stanley Joseph Mervin who preceded him in death. Len, who became a quiet, funny man, would often reminisce that his love of music and his ability to play the piano was fostered by his Grandmother, who would require him to take piano lessons in order to earn money for ice cream. She, along with this parents, taught him early the value of hard work, and he instilled this in his children and grandchildren.

As a young man, Len determined that he would make a difference in this world and as such pursued a career in the armed services. He faithfully served in the United States Air Force traveling the world and defending our freedoms. Early in his military career, he married the late Betty Jo Lee Norwood Mervin and to their union seven (7) children were born.

As part of his military service, Len traveled to Texas, Pennsylvania, Japan, Virginia, Korea, New Jersey, New York and California, all before retiring as a Master Sargent at his final duty station, Seymour Johnson Airforce Base, in Goldsboro, NC. He received many honors for his military service and later pursued a second career with the United States Postal Service, from which he also retired.

After retirement, Len dedicated himself to his love for family by developing a passion in genealogy, where he traced the family’s history for many generations. It became a great work for him to provide this legacy to his children and grandchildren, because as a man of honor, he knew that in order for his family to know where they were going, they had to also know from whence they came. He also pursued his passion of horticulture, where he was known to have quite the green thumb. He lovingly tended to beautiful plants and flowers, and shared this passion with several of his children.

Len married his devoted wife, Cira Sutton Mervin on May 25, 1975. Together, they enjoyed a life that was rooted and founded in family and love. With this union, Len gained three (3) step-children who he loved as his own.

Len leaves to cherish in his memory, his devoted wife Cira, seven children: Martha RA Fields of Boston, MA, Dana Van Chesley Mervin (Kawajalen) of Los Alamitos, CA, Leonard Alexander “Bud” Mervin (Samaria) of Orlando, FL, Michael Wayne Mervin of Chicago, IL, Betty Lenoir Graves of Holly Springs, NC, Sharon “Opie” Jean Brown of Fayetteville, NC, and Christopher Ward Mervin (Della) of Apex, NC. He leaves three stepchildren: Christopher Sutton (Natasha), John Dixon (Chrissie) and Patricia J Schulz. He also leaves 18 grandchildren: Shawna, Joelle, Alexis, Isaiah, Tonya, Alyssa, Monique, Bianca, Yolanda, Nat, Erica, Olivia, Chris, Aaron, Travis, Jamison, Evan and Kyla, as well as 16 great-grandchildren.

Leonard Mervin should be remembered and honored as a man who enjoyed life, loved family and believed in working hard. He achieved much, but the greatest of his achievements is the legacy of love left behind.