Posted: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 12:00 am
Feb. 8, 1914 - Feb. 3, 2008
F. Merrill Blades, 93, of Lebanon, formerly of Milton-Freewater, died Feb. 3, 2008, at his home.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Milton-Freewater.
He was born on Feb. 8, 1914, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert Floyd and Rose V. (Irons) Blades.
Merrill graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. He moved to Milton-Freewater with his family in 1936.
He married Bertha Owings on Sept. 1, 1939, in Walla Walla, Wash. Mr. Blades served during WWII with the Army Corps of Engineers in the South Pacific.
He was the caretaker at the Milton-Freewater I.O.O.F. Cemetery for more than 25 years. He continued making and setting grave markers in his retirement until he was 88 years old. He and his wife moved to Lebanon in October 2006.
Mr. Blades was a life member of the B.P.O.E. No. 2146 in Milton-Freewater and the I.O.O.F. Freewater Lodge No. 202. He was a charter member of the V.F.W. Post and a member of the Ingle Chapel Congregational Church, both in Milton-Freewater.
He is survived by his wife Bertha Blades of Lebanon; son John Blades of Lebanon; sister Wilma Edington of Walla Walla, Wash.; grandchildren Jeff Blades and Carrie Hector of Lebanon; and great-grandchildren Josh and Jason Hector of Lebanon.
His brother Robert Blades and sister Yvette Beetem died before he did.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.hustonjost.com.
Contributions may be made to the Ingle Chapel Congregational Church or to the charity of the donor's choice in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86. W. Grant St., Lebanon, OR 97355.