Richard J. Merrill, 66

Poulsbo resident Richard J. Merrill died Sept. 17, 2007. He was 66.

He was born to Jesse A. Merrill and Adelyn Olson Merrill on June 10, 1941, at the Olson family farm in Doyle Township, Barron County, Wis.

Merrill graduated from Stillwater High School, Stillwater Minn. in June 1959, enlisting in the Navy the day after graduation. He retired from the Navy in May 1979. He served on cruisers, destroyers and amphibious ships.

From 1979-2003 Richard was employed at Lockheed Martin Companies in Seattle and Sunnyvale, Calif.

He retired from Lockheed Martin Technical Operations Company in April 2003. His last assignment with the company was Space Station Programs Logistics Manager in Sunnyvale, Calif. Richard and his wife Tamara moved from Morgan Hill, Calif. to Poulsbo shortly after retirement.

Survived by his wife Tamara; sisters Judene Merrill Matijevich and Diane Merrill; sons John Merrill and Paul Merrill, daughter Susan Merrill Trimble; stepdaughters Theresa Banks, Tiffany Spaulding; stepson Thomas (Michael) Spaulding; and 13 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and three younger brothers: Lee, Douglas, and David.

Merrill had Naval Burial at sea. Memorial Services will be held in Wisconsin and Poulsbo. The family requests donations to the American Lung Association, Mesothelioma Research, in lieu of flowers.