Obituary of Walter Merkel

Walter T. Merkel lived a full and rewarding life. He was born in Plauen, Germany in 1920, the son of the late Paul and Martha Merkel. At the beginning of the Great Depression and only 8 years old, he emigrated with his family to the United States; settling in Holyoke. To help his family during the depression he and his brother formed Merkel Art Services, a commercial art firm. He also worked as a photoengraver for Valley Photoengraving Corp. He was a graduate of Holyoke High School. In 1942, he joined the Army to fight in WW II and served as an intelligence analyst in the North African and Pacific Theaters. He was awarded the WW II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon. He remained in the US Army Reserves through 1949. After the war he returned to Valley Photoengraving (which became Valley Graphics Company). He worked his way up through the ranks to become the Company President. His professional affiliations included the New England Newspaper Production Conference and the Springfield Club of Printing House Craftsmen. Outside of work he focused his life on his family, church, Boy Scouts and other civic organizations. Walter was a man of deep faith and was extremely active at the United Methodist Church in South Hadley. He heeded the call to “let your light shine before men.” During his life he had probably served on every committee or council in the Church. He lived a life of service to the Church, community and world. His Christian life was not one of all work and no play; he enjoyed performing with the Church choir during various functions and services. Walter Merkel began his 75 year Scounting career as a Boy Scout of Troop 2 in the Holyoke council when he was 12 years old. During the late thirties he spent his summers at Camp Apin Akwi Pita. He advanced through the Scouting program and served for 12 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 2 and 3. For the next 60 years he served in various council positions, including President of both Mt. Tom Council and Pioneer Valley Council. He also served as a Scoutmaster for the 1950 and 1960 Jamborees and again as a Scoutmaster for the 1967 World Jamboree. It gave him great joy to see how the Scouting Program enriches boys’ lives and gives them the confidence and skills to be good citizens. Walter was also a member of the Lions Club, PTA and a Town Meeting Member. In his leisure time, he enjoyed gardening, hiking, golf, stamp collecting and traveling the world with his wife. Walter was the beloved husband of 62 years of Betty J. (Jacot) Merkel. He was the loving father of Joseph Merkel & his wife Jody of Costa Mesa, CA, David Merkel & his wife Jean Ann of Burlington, and Linda Stimpson & her husband John of Portsmouth, RI. He was the proud grandfather of Michael Stimpson, Edward, Troy, Kristiana, Bret, & Tanya Merkel. Memorial services will be held at the United Methodist Church, 30 Carew St., S. Hadley on Sunday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Walter’s name may be made to the Methodist Church, 30 Carew St., S. Hadley, MA 01075 or the Boy Scouts of America, 249 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013