Donald "Don" Malcolm Merrill

Donald (Don) Malcolm Merrill, 85, closed his eyes forever on July 11, 2020. He died peacefully in his sleep at the Southeast Volusia Hospice center in Edgewater, FL from complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Don was born October 24, 1934 in Phoenix, NY to parents George and Jessie (Ure) Merrill.

Don was an avid Scouts of America participant in his youth: Cub Scouts (1944 - 1946), Boy Scouts (1946 - 1949) and Sea Scouts (1949-1952). Don graduated from Phoenix Central School, Class of 1952. According to his senior yearbook Don was “Tall, dark, and handsome…” the “strong and silent type”, that only found love in the photography darkroom. He was senior class treasurer, played junior varsity basketball, participated in Science Club, and (shockingly) was in the senior play!

Soon after graduation Don went to work at General Electric (GE), following in the footsteps of his father, but soon enlisted in the Air Force (April 1954) at Sampson AFB in NY. He was discharged honorably in November 1957. When asked about his favorite times in the AF his reply was “spending leave time in New Orleans”!

After his time in the AF, he returned to work at GE and attended college at Syracuse University, graduating with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1962. Don joined the Apollo Support Department as a computing system specialist and moved to Daytona Beach, FL in 1965 where he spent most of his 38 year career, with the exception of a short stretch in Valley Forge, PA (1976 – 1978).

In 1971 he met his beautiful wife, Veronica Ann (Unger) at GE. It was a whirlwind romance and they were married after only 3 months of courtship on November 24, 1971 (which he jokingly referred to as “DDay” in his appointment calendars). Don was always a joker and a kid at heart, enjoying family trips to Disney World, making puns and traveling to NC Mountains in the family motorhome. He enjoyed learning new technology, always keeping the Merrill household up-to-date with the latest computer of the day. Although he appeared to many as a reserved, quiet person he was always quick to laugh and joke with close friends and family. He went through life enjoying every moment, unconcerned about other people’s opinions, merrily smoking his pipe and drinking a beer.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his devoted wife of 44 years, Veronica (Roni) and sister Dawne. Left to cherish his memory: sons James M. ("Jim") and George Arthur ("Art") (Raleigh, N.C.), brothers Danny M. (Billerica, MA) and Dennis M. (Raleigh, N.C.), nephews Stephen, Tom, nieces Chris, Beth, and Denise, and several close friends. Burial service will be held Wednesday, August 12th at 10:00 a.m. in Edgewater Cemetery with military honors. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.volusiamemorialfuneral.com. The family asks that in lieu or flowers or gifts that donations are made to Hospice in his name: https://www.halifaxhealth.org/services-treatments/our-services/hospice-care/giving/donation-portal