Merrill Franklin Davis

Merrill Franklin Davis, age 79, Bloomington, Ind., passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at IU Health, Bloomington Hospital. Born on February 5, 1933 in Columbus, Ohio, he was a lifelong Buckeye fan. He graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in Education and completed a Master of Theology degree at St. Mary's Theological Seminary and Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He served aboard the U.S.S. Askari in the Pacific during the Korean War and enjoyed the camaraderie of shipmates as a member and past secretary of the U.S.S. Askari Association.

He retired as an Area Director for the Social Security Administration in 1986 and later worked for the Monroe County Community School Corporation as a para-educator, retiring from that position in 2010. He felt blessed by the love of his family and the many friendships he maintained with former co-workers and members of his church family at Vineyard Community Church.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Grange) Davis; four children: Jenifer and Alleyn Davis of Goshen, Ind. and Andrew and Sharon Davis of Bloomington, Ind.; two grandsons: Benjamin (Lindsay) Grossmann and Eli (RhiAnnon) Grossmann of Goshen; five great-grandchildren: Dylan, Brooklynn, Charlotte, Ellenore, and Loreli Grossmann of Goshen; four sisters: Wanda McCall of Winter Haven, Fla., Wilma Doebler of Temperance, Mich., Carol (Ken) Rice of Waxhaw, N.C., and Twila Jessop of Charlotte, N.C.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Davis and Minnie Mabel (Allen) Davis and two brothers, Carl Davis and Ken Davis.

At Merrill's request, there will be no visitation. Memorial donations can be made to Vineyard Community Church, 2375 S. Walnut St., Bloomington, IN 47401.