Merlin Hershberger

Memorial for Merlin Lee Hershberger Born in Walnut Creek, Ohio on Mar. 2, 1934 Departed on Jun. 24, 2009 and resided in Walnut Creek, OH. Visitation: Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009 Service: Sunday, Jun. 28, 2009 Cemetery: Walnut Creek Mennonite Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions. Merlin Lee Hershberger 75, of Walnut Creek, died Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Joel Pomerene Hospital at Millersburg after a short period of declining health. Born March 2, 1934 in Walnut Creek he was a son of the late Homer and Leora (Hostetler) Hershberger. He attended Walnut Creek Elementary School. Merlin lived near Walnut Creek all of his life farming on the family farm until illness forced him to retire. After that he transported Amish children and teachers to school for many years. He enjoyed photography taking slides, prints and movies of family, friends and his travels with his sister Irene. He enjoyed watching sports on TV and was an avid Hiland Hawks basketball fan following both the boys and girls teams. He kept records of all basketball scores since the beginning of Hiland High School. Merlin had a love of cats and enjoyed telling stories about his 2 cats Cherry and Candy. Following the weather was also a pastime of Merlin's. He recorded the temperatures, rainfall and wind speeds on a daily basis using his computer which was connected to an outside weather station. Hearing impaired since birth, he learned to cope in a hearing world due in big part to his sister Irene. Merlin is survived by his sister in law Norma Hershberger of Walnut Creek, nieces and their families Cheryl (Verton) Yoder of Wooster, Marsha (Keith) Snyder of Sarasota, Fla. and Bonnie (Jim) Mellor of Dover. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister Irene in Feb. 2009, a brother Howard, an infant sister Marjorie and a nephew Ron Hershberger. The family wishes to thank the staff at Walnut Hills Nursing Home for their care in the past month and especially Merlin's neighbors the Paul and Amanda Burkholder family for the assistance given for many years. Funeral services will be held Sunday June 28, 2009 at 2:00 PM in the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church at Walnut Creek. Rev. Bob Schloneger and Rev. Bo Hummel will officiate and burial will follow in Walnut Creek Mennonite Cemetery. Friends may call Saturday from 6 to 8 PM at the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church and one hour prior to services at the church on Sunday. Smith-Varns Funeral Home in Sugarcreek is handling the arrangements. For those unable to attend please visit the funeral Home's web site to share a memory and sign the guest register