John Paul Merritt

Mr. John Paul Merritt, 85, passed away at his home Friday, September 12, 2008 after an extended illness. He was born in Forsyth County on March 17, 1923 the son of the late Rufus and Eliza Head Merritt. Mr. Merritt was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed by everyone who knew him. He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Rural Hall where he had taught Sunday School for 50 years. Mr. Merritt retired from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company with 20 years of service as a machine operator. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters. Mr. Merritt is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Wilma McNeil Merritt of the home, a daughter, Gail Murray and husband John of Pfafftown, two sons, Dale Merritt and wife Judy and Stanley Merritt and wife Linda both of Tobaccoville, four grandchildren, Samantha Evans and husband Eddie, Teresa Simchick, Angela Verdery and husband Brantley and Christopher Merritt, six great-grandchildren, Carol Anne, Anna, Alicia, Alayne, Caroline and Katy, a special bother-in-law, Ray McNeil of King and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 14, 2008 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Rural Hall with Rev. Jack Lutz and Rev. Lee Money officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 this evening Sept. 13, 2008 at Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home in Rural Hall. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to; Bethel Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 1314, Rural Hall, NC 27045 or Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103. (Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel)

Memorials:
Bethel Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 1314, Rural Hall, NC 27045 or Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Cemetery:
Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery

Visitation:
06:00pm - 08:00pm on September 13, 2008 at Rural Hall Chapel

Service:
Service at 02:00pm on September 14, 2008 at Bethel United Methodist Church