Orono - Howard W. 'Bucky' Merrill, 97, died December 24, 2018, at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, Maine, of complications of heart disease. He was born March 12, 1921, in Bangor, the son of Ralph W. and Mabelle (Jacques) Merrill.
A resident of Old Town, Bucky graduated from Old Town High School, class of 1938. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. In 1942, he graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in mechanical engineering. Following college, he served in the US Army Air Corps as a Second Lieutenant being assigned to the special Weapons Laboratory at Wright Field Dayton, OH during WWII. Working primarily on remote control bombs and airplanes, his experiences included helping to launch pilotless bombers against high priority German targets.
After honorably discharged from the Army in 1946, as a Captain, he joined the then Glen L. Martin Co in Baltimore, MD as an engineer in a newly formed missile organization. He worked his way up in Engineering and Operations to assignment as Vice President-General Manager of that Division. His most rewarding engineering accomplishment resulted in an award as co-holder of a patent for a steerable rocket system. For the next few years he held various positions with Martin as VP-General Manager of the Denver (Titan) Division. He was later VP-Administration and VP - Production Operations of the Aerospace Division of the Martin Marietta Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland. He spent two years as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Paul H. Nitze, working in matters involving management of the Navy Department. He was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal (DCSM) for that effort.
Bucky retired from the Martin Marietta Corporation (now Lockheed-Martin) at age 55 to return to his home at Pushaw Lake, Old Town, Maine.
Throughout his life he was involved in community affairs that included: member University of Maine Development Council for 21 years, 25 year member of Kiwanis ( Past President in Baltimore and Orono-Old Town Clubs), Director Denver Chamber of Congress, Founding member and Mayor Pro-Temp Village of Columbine Valley, (Columbine Country Club, Colorado), Old Town City Council, Board of Assessors (chair), Old Town, Chair Old Town Public Library Expansion Committee and Endowment Trustee, President and Treasurer Old Town Museum, Various assignments: Old Town United Methodist Church, Officer and Director Kukunsook Club and Camp Owners Association, Director Old Town-Orono YMCA Foundation.
Bucky enjoyed hunting, woodlot management, saw mill operations, wildlife, maple sugaring and genealogy.
He married the former Edith Jordan Huntley of Old Town on May 24, 1943 and she predeceased him on January 6, 2004. He is survived by his children, Constance (Merrill) Bennett and her husband, Ronald, of Scarborough, Stephen Weld Merrill and his wife, Lori (Bradley), of Brewer, and Nancy (Merrill) Babcock and her husband, Henry, of Etna; three grandchildren, Ted Bennett and his wife, Julie, of Scarborough, Betsy (Bennett) Pritchard and husband, Joseph, of Gorham, and David Weld Merrill and his wife, Anna, of Fairbanks, Alaska; ten great-grandchildren; and very special companion and friend, Cora Paradis of Orono. He was predeceased by sisters, Edith (Merrill) Lancaster and her husband, Robert Lancaster, and Doris (Merrill) Condon.
Many thanks to the Dirigo Pines Community where he resided for 8 years prior to his death. He was considered quite a character there.
Friends may call 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, at the Birmingham Funeral Home 438 Main St Old Town. A funeral service will be conducted 11a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019, at the Old Town United Methodist Church, Old Town. Spring burial with military honors will be conducted at Lawndale Cemetery, Old Town.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Town Public Library 46 Middle Street Old Town, ME 04468, Old Town United Methodist Church 726 Stillwater Ave Old Town, ME 04468, Old Town-Orono YMCA 472 Stillwater Ave Old Town, ME 04468.