MERLE EMERY MILBY

Merle Milby

Merle Emery Milby, 78, of Vermont died at 5:33 p.m. Feb. 27, 2014, at his home.

He was born Oct. 18, 1935, in Rushville, a son of Lewis C. and Lela L. Shaver Milby.

He married Peggy Taylor on Dec. 1, 1961, in Macomb. She survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Kathy (and David) McCurdy and Carol DeWeese, both of Vermont and Penny (and Bob) Campbell of Table Grove; one brother, Leslie (and Judy) Milby of Macomb; four sisters, Faye Avery of Mount Sterling, Florence (and Francis) Edwards of Petersburg, Ramona (and Virgil) Henderson of Macomb and Joyce Goodwin of Pekin; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Tabitha Campbell; two brothers, Morris and Harold Milby; and two sisters, Christine Blair and Rosalie Fahnders.

He graduated from Rushville High School in 1953 and Spoon River College in 1978.

He served in the U.S. Army from Nov. 14, 1958, to Nov. 10, 1960. Before he entered the service, he worked as a farm hand and as a clerk at Moreland and Devitt Drug Store in Rushville. After he was honorably discharged from the Army, he returned to work at Moreland and Devitt until 1963. He then purchased and operated Merle’s Store in Vermont until its closing in 1986. He later worked at Vermont Foundry until retirement.

Services were held Tuesday at Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville with Rev. Dave Vandeman officiating. Burial was in Rushville City Cemetery with military rites conducted by a U.S. Army Honors Detail and Schuyler American Legion Post #4.

Memorials may be made to Merle Milby Memorial Fund care of Vermont State Bank.

Condolences may be sent to www.worthingtonfh.com.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 3/5/2014