MERRITT ASA EATHERTON

Merritt Asa Eatherton, 84, of Columbia City, IN went quickly, but safely and peacefully home to his Lord and Saviour at Parkview Whitley Emergency Room, Columbia City at 3:37 am Sunday, November 21, 2010. He was born on September 9, 1926 in Fostoria, OH the son of Asa Brayton and Nora Mae (Vanderhoff) Eatherton.

Merritt was raised in Fostoria and Wharton areas and graduated from Wharton High School with the Class of 1944. He proudly served in United States Navy and on April 23, 1947 he married the love of his life, Maxine Joan Corbin at the Wharton Church of God parsonage. They began their married life by operating an 80 acre dairy farm for many years, in the meantime, he also worked for Cobey Farm Equipment and other Cobey enterprises in Bucyrus, Kenton and Gallion, OH. He retired after 20 years service as the Vice President and General Manager of Eagle Crusher in Gallion. In 2004 he and his wife moved to Columbia City to be near family. He was a member of Wharton and Columbia City Churches of God. At the Wharton Church of God he served as an Elder for 32 years, Sunday School Superintendent for 15 years, Sunday School Teacher for 20+ years, Deacon and Chairman of Church Board. He also had an amazing 54 years of perfect attendance at the Wharton Church of God. For the Ohio Conference of the Churches of God he served on the Board of Finance as Treasurer, Financial Secretary, President of Laymans Association and on the Executive Board as Member at Large. He also taught and served as a Dean at Camp Otyokwah . For the Churches of God General Conference, he served as President of C.G.W.B for 6 years, delegate to General Conference and for several years he served as Trustee of Winebrenner Seminary, Findlay, OH where he also attended classes to further his education. He was a very active member of the Wyandot County Camp of Gideons International, before moving to Indiana in 2004 to be near family. Merritt was an avid Ohio State sports fan. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren to sporting events and he loved anything shared with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Maxine Joan Eatherton, Columbia City; 2 children, Bob (Deb) Eatherton of Columbia City and David (Bethany) James, Grandview, TN; 3 grandchildren including, April (Stephen) Isar and Christin (Adam) Jones both of Fort Wayne and Jennie James, Lincoln, NE; 3 great grandchildren, Alissa Mae Isar, Sierra Dahlia Isar and Joanna Maxine Jones all of Fort Wayne; 1 brother, Dale Lavern Eatherton, Fostoriaand 1 sister, Ruth Louise Mathias, Fostoria. He is preceded in death by 1 brother, Maynard Francis Eatherton and 2 sisters, Olive Mae Rathbunn-Gilhouse-Gilette-Kimble and Janet Kay Krupp-Stock.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 23, 2010 and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 both at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. with Pastors Jim Martin and Johnny McCallister, of the First Church of God, Columbia City, officiating. Visitation will also be held at the Wharton Church of God, Cass Road, Wharton, OH on Saturday, November 27, 2010 from 10-11:30 a.m. with funeral service immediately following with Pastor Joe Carney, officiating. Committal services with military graveside rites will follow in the Wharton-Richland-Union Cemetery, Wharton. Memorial bequest may be given in Mr. Eathertons memory to either the First Church of God Building Fund, Wharton Church of God Mission Fund or to Gideons International. Envelopes will be available through the funeral home. To send family condolences or to sign the guest register please log on to www.demoneygrimes.com