Merrill E. McMillan, 88, Fort Wayne, passed away at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, June 25, 2018, at Coventry Meadows in Fort Wayne.
Merrill was born in Marion on January 7, 1930, to the late Oral and Hazel (Hults) McMillan. He was raised in Jadden and graduated from Jefferson Township High School in Upland. When he was younger, he raced motorcycles professionally. He worked at Studebaker in South Bend and later at Thomson Consumer Electronics (formerly RCA) as a truck driver. He was a member of the 4 Million Mile Club for Safe Driving, Moose Lodge, Elks, and American Legion. He was a military veteran of the Korean War.
On April 23rd, he married Florence Roosevelt and they were married for 63 years. He had four daughters: Salli M. (James) Hutton, Gainesville, Georgia, Gale E. (Charles) Wall, Dayton, Ohio, Joyce C. (Brian) Smid, Roanoke, and Lorna J. (Michael R.) Combs, Fort Wayne.
Merrill enjoyed all types of auto racing and fresh water and deep sea fishing. He was always very handy and could fix just about anything. He loved his family dearly and loved spending time with them.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jonica, Laurel, Patrick (Alana), Adrianne (Matt), Katherine, Sidney, and Carly, and great-grandchildren, Jordan, Will, Madeline, Hudson, and Amelia.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Heather E. Wall.
The family will receive visitors from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Merrill’s funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2018, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN. Pastor Mick Simpkins will be officiating with burial following at Grant Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be directed to The Heather Wall Memorial Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Grant County, 505 W. Third St., Marion, IN 46952 or Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana (DSANI), P.O. Box 13611, Fort Wayne, IN 46865.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.