Reynolds C Merritts

Reynolds C. "Ren" Merritts, 88, Altoona, died Thursday at Altoona Regional Health System, Altoona Hospital Campus, after a brief illness. He was born in Hollidaysburg, son of Samuel Calvin and Margaret (Reynolds) Merritts. His beloved wife, Doris "Pat" Shaffer, preceded him in death on Aug. 30, 1991. Surviving are three daughters: Rebecca Levine and husband, Benjamin, Sandra Mallory and husband, William, and Josette Chambreau and friend, Carmine Grieco, all of Altoona; a granddaughter, Amy and husband, Justin; a great-grandson, Miles; three stepgrandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Betty Barkley and Mary K. Merritts; and a brother, John Kenneth. He was the last member of his immediate family. Ren was a 1941 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of WWII, serving from January 1942 to October 1945 with the 8th Air Force in England, 12th Air Force in North Africa and 15th Air Force in Italy for a total of 28 months overseas. He retired as mail supervisor from the U.S. Postal Service, Altoona Post Office, in 1979 after 33 years of government service. Prior to this, he was a railway postal clerk on the railway post office (RPO), New York City and Pittsburgh line. These clerks were called "men of iron" as they distributed mail as the train was moving. Ren was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Juniata, and a former member of Zion Lutheran Church, Hollidaysburg. He was a life member of the 301st Bombardment Group Association, a member of the Bavarian Aid Society, Bavarian Men's Club, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, A&J Iaia American Legion Post, Sinking Valley Country Club, AARP, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and Hollidaysburg Area High School Alumni Association, and a former member of the American Postal Workers Union and the Bavarian Seniors Bowling League. Ren was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling in the men's senior league and, more than anything, spending time with his beloved family. Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata (www.maukandyates.com), followed by a funeral service at 8 p.m. Entombment will be at Alto-Reste Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, 1837 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16602.