Thomas Robert Merritt, Sr.

Mr. Thomas R. Merritt, 92, of Washington, died January 12, 2011 in Winterville Assisted Living.He was a native of Cairo, Georgia, the son of the late Lucious Oscar and Lillie Vickers Merritt. Mr. Merritt earned a BS from the University of Georgia, his Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and attended the Naval War College in Rhode Island.Mr. Merritt served in the United States Marine Corps as an aviator and retired as a Colonel after twenty five years of service. He served in World War II, the Korean War and the Viet-Nam conflict.He also served for several years as the personal pilot to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.After retiring from the Marine Corps, he began a new career with Grumman Aerospace Corporation, where he ran operations that produced the F-14 “Tomcat” fighter aircraft.He retired from Grumman Aerospace in 1985 as a vice-president.Mr. Merritt was predeceased by his wife of sixty six years, Elizabeth Morris Merritt. Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 3:00pm in First Baptist Church, Washington, with Full Military Honors. Rev. Kevin Madden will officiate.Interment will be in Resthaven Cemetery. Survivors include one son, Thomas R. “Tom” Merritt and his wife, Candice, of Canton; one daughter, Claire Molloy and her husband, William T. of Houston, Texas; one brother, Carl Merritt, of Mineola, Texas; one sister, Gladys M. Wray, of Tifton; four grandchildren, Brian and Andrew Molloy and Kristin and Jason Merritt. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6-8pm.