Richard Harold Merling Sr.

Richard Harold Merling, Sr. 87, of Baytown, TX, passed away on July 15, 2016. He was born on November 27, 1928, in Duluth, MN. Richard was the oldest of seven children born to the late Harold L. Merling and Elna Bjorken Merling.

Richard loved to fish and hunt in his early years in Duluth. He was an Air Force Fire Fighter in Okinawa during WWII. He married his wife Maxine and moved to California to obtain a degree in electronics and then moved to Texas to work at NASA and get back to country living. Here the family raised cattle and rabbits on their new 3 acre ranch. He worked at NASA, testing space equipment, including the Lunar Rover, and started Merling Appliance in 1971. After he retired, he bought a camper for his truck and traveled to visit family and friends in Minnesota and California. He loved family Christmases at his house and riding his one speed bike 20 miles a day.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Elna; his wife Maxine; sisters Dona Dyrdahl and Janice Friedman.

He is survived by his Brothers Jim, Tom, Dennis and sister Carole Swineheart; sons, Richard H Merling, Jr. and wife, Patricia; Robert Merling and wife, Brenda; daughter Melissa Bertel and husband, Ron; grandchildren, Chad Merling, Kristy Skidmore, Sarah Maddox, Chris Merling, Lauren White, Brittney Smith, Erika Merling, Robert Bertel, and Josh Spencer; and 18 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 25, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Earthman Funeral Home in Baytown, TX. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 10:00 am at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, 2714 Ferry Road, Baytown, TX 77520. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Baytown, TX.