Merwin Jones

May 20, 2006

Merwin Miller Jones, of North Syracuse, New York, passed away Saturday at the age of 87. He was the loving husband of Ruth Ketchum and father of seven children from his first marriage with Marjorie Ellen Page, who passed away August 6, 1992, two months after their 50th. Merwin was born in Smithtown Branch, Long Island, September 22, 1918. He was the sixth of eight children of A.M. and Lucia Parsons Jones, all of whom predeceased him. Merwin graduated from Huntington High in 1936 and enrolled in Clarkson University. He enlisted in the Army in 1941 prior to completing his degree. He was put in a medical unit in the 106th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, when he arrived at Fort McClellan. He was commissioned after Pearl Harbor, and transferred to a combat engineer unit at Fort Belvoir. He served in the European Theater through December 1945, retiring from the Army Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973 after 32 years service.

On June 21, 1942, he and Marjorie Page were married in Washington, D.C. Their children are Karen, Eric (Lorena), Barbara (Richard Cain), Stephen, Pamela (Robert Wiebusch), Peter and Robin (Frederick Scott). He is survived by his children, 17 grandchildren (Eric Jones (Kathy), Erica Lozouski (James), Patrick, Brian, Richard Jr, Joshua and Jesse Cain, Stephen Jones (Beverly), Jason (Drinda), and Monica Wiebusch (Dan), Christina Elieff, Linda Matthews (Kenneth), and Mary, Joshua (Jeanette), and Vanessa Scott), 25 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by grandchild Kirk Jones.

Merwin and Ruthie Elizabeth Ketchum were married on February 18, 1995. His extended family includes Ruth's children, Pamela (Gary Proctor), Kathy (Wayne Boudoin) and David Ketchum (Nancy), and Ruth's grandchildren (Randy Proctor, Chris Boudoin, and David, Leeann, Joseph, and Daniel Ketchum).

Merwin worked for the Syracuse City School district for nearly 30 years, beginning as a teacher at Smith Tech and then Central Technical High School when the school was completed in 1955, teaching Trig., Strength of Metals, and various other engineering courses. Merwin became the Vice Principal of Tech Division of Central Tech, followed by a special assignment for the Board of Education, retiring in 1978. Merwin was an active member of Lafayette Avenue Methodist Church until its closing, then attended Trinity United Methodist Church, singing in the choir. He was a active member of Cicero United Methodist Church, continuing his long practice of visiting and delivering recordings of services to shut-ins. Merwin sang at many Central NY nursing homes with Hamer Sing-a-long Group, Berwald Singers and Onondaga Entertainers.

Services for Merwin will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Cicero United Methodist Church. Friends can visit with his family on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at New Comer Family Funeral Home, 705 N. Main Street.

In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice of CNY, 990 North St, L'pool, NY 13088. Ruthie and family would like to acknowledge and thank all the support and care they and Merwin received from his doctors, St. Joseph's Hosp, St. Joseph's Home Care, Birchwood, and especially the many wonderful people on the Hospice Team.

Messages of sympathy may be left at www.newcomerfamily.com