Ronald Douglas Merritt

Ronald Douglas Merritt, 81, of Hanahan, SC. It is with a heavy and saddened heart that we report his passing into the arms of the Lord, Sunday September 17, 2017. His funeral service will be held Friday, September 22, 2017 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Northwoods Chapel, 2180 Greenridge Road at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Riverview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Stuhr Northwoods Chapel.

He was born in Magnolia, NC on January 8, 1936 the son of the late Addie Almond Merritt and the late Janie Evelyn Groves Merritt. They moved to North Charleston, SC where he attended Chicora High School and played quarterback on the Eagles Football Team. He volunteered for the US Army and served as a sergeant in Germany in the mid-1950s. After leaving the Army, he met, courted, and swept Barbara Jean Robinson off her feet and married her on August 2, 1959. He worked for Southern Bell and later Bell South until he retired in 1991. He also served as President of the local Communication Workers of America Union. An avid and expert outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, shooting, and camping, but he received his most enjoyment working on the farm he purchased in the 1980s. Although retired, he worked just as hard raising vegetables that he gave to family and friends. But most impressively, he gave all the excess to local charities to help care for the needy.

He will continue to be loved and missed by his loving wife, Bobbi Merritt of Hanahan, son Ron Merritt of Chesapeake, VA, daughter Cindy Merritt Lovelace of Mt Pleasant, daughter-in-law Tammy Merritt of Chesapeake, VA, son-in-law Stephen Lovelace of Mt. Pleasant, SC, grandson Ronnie Merritt, Jr. of Chesapeake, VA, grandson Zachary Lovelace of Mt. Pleasant, SC, sister Patricia Adams of Dallas, TX, sister Jill Hebert of Santee, SC, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends across the nation.