Des Moines Register, Oct. 9, 2008
MERLE W. BOATWRIGHT
Des Moines
Merle W. Boatwright, 89, sharp and witty to the end, died on October 5, 2008, at Mercy Hospice, Johnston, after a long battle with COPD. He was born in the Ankeny home of his parents, Walter W. Boatwright and Frances (Temple) Boatwright on July 26, 1919. He grew up in Urbandale and was in the first ever Urbandale High graduating class of 1937. He served in the Coast Guard in WWII and was crossing the mid- Pacific on an LST when the war ended. He married Wahneta (Pat) F. Cross on January 30, 1941 and they resided chiefly in Des Moines until her death in 2006.
Merle was many things and good at virtually everything: coal truck driver, Ordnance Plant gunner, sailor, homebuilder, carpenter, pilot, floor finisher, storyteller, Firestone tire builder, custodian and school bus driver for Johnston Schools. He traveled widely, enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, boating, woodworking, gardening, bowled in several leagues, and was surely one of the best "tinkerers" ever.
Merle was known for his sense of humor which was too sly for some, too tactless for a few, but widely enjoyed by most.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat and infant son, Bruce, as well as his sisters Marjorie and Darlene, and a brother, Duane. He is survived by two sons, Ken (Jo) and Rick (Shelly) Boatwright, along with four grandchildren, Bryan (Lori), Katie, Colin and Lisa Boatwright, one great-grandchild, Jared Ren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice Johnston or the Urbandale High School Memorial.
Join the family on Friday, October 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Merle Hay Funeral Home for visitation. Services are Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, including burial with full military honors at Chapel Hill Gardens.
MERLE W. BOATWRIGHT
Des Moines
Merle W. Boatwright, 89, sharp and witty to the end, died on October 5, 2008, at Mercy Hospice, Johnston, after a long battle with COPD. He was born in the Ankeny home of his parents, Walter W. Boatwright and Frances (Temple) Boatwright on July 26, 1919. He grew up in Urbandale and was in the first ever Urbandale High graduating class of 1937. He served in the Coast Guard in WWII and was crossing the mid- Pacific on an LST when the war ended. He married Wahneta (Pat) F. Cross on January 30, 1941 and they resided chiefly in Des Moines until her death in 2006.
Merle was many things and good at virtually everything: coal truck driver, Ordnance Plant gunner, sailor, homebuilder, carpenter, pilot, floor finisher, storyteller, Firestone tire builder, custodian and school bus driver for Johnston Schools. He traveled widely, enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, boating, woodworking, gardening, bowled in several leagues, and was surely one of the best "tinkerers" ever.
Merle was known for his sense of humor which was too sly for some, too tactless for a few, but widely enjoyed by most.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat and infant son, Bruce, as well as his sisters Marjorie and Darlene, and a brother, Duane. He is survived by two sons, Ken (Jo) and Rick (Shelly) Boatwright, along with four grandchildren, Bryan (Lori), Katie, Colin and Lisa Boatwright, one great-grandchild, Jared Ren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice Johnston or the Urbandale High School Memorial.
Join the family on Friday, October 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Merle Hay Funeral Home for visitation. Services are Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, including burial with full military honors at Chapel Hill Gardens.
Des Moines Register, Oct. 9, 2008
MERLE W. BOATWRIGHT
Des Moines
Merle W. Boatwright, 89, sharp and witty to the end, died on October 5, 2008, at Mercy Hospice, Johnston, after a long battle with COPD. He was born in the Ankeny home of his parents, Walter W. Boatwright and Frances (Temple) Boatwright on July 26, 1919. He grew up in Urbandale and was in the first ever Urbandale High graduating class of 1937. He served in the Coast Guard in WWII and was crossing the mid- Pacific on an LST when the war ended. He married Wahneta (Pat) F. Cross on January 30, 1941 and they resided chiefly in Des Moines until her death in 2006.
Merle was many things and good at virtually everything: coal truck driver, Ordnance Plant gunner, sailor, homebuilder, carpenter, pilot, floor finisher, storyteller, Firestone tire builder, custodian and school bus driver for Johnston Schools. He traveled widely, enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, boating, woodworking, gardening, bowled in several leagues, and was surely one of the best "tinkerers" ever.
Merle was known for his sense of humor which was too sly for some, too tactless for a few, but widely enjoyed by most.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat and infant son, Bruce, as well as his sisters Marjorie and Darlene, and a brother, Duane. He is survived by two sons, Ken (Jo) and Rick (Shelly) Boatwright, along with four grandchildren, Bryan (Lori), Katie, Colin and Lisa Boatwright, one great-grandchild, Jared Ren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice Johnston or the Urbandale High School Memorial.
Join the family on Friday, October 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Merle Hay Funeral Home for visitation. Services are Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, including burial with full military honors at Chapel Hill Gardens.
MERLE W. BOATWRIGHT
Des Moines
Merle W. Boatwright, 89, sharp and witty to the end, died on October 5, 2008, at Mercy Hospice, Johnston, after a long battle with COPD. He was born in the Ankeny home of his parents, Walter W. Boatwright and Frances (Temple) Boatwright on July 26, 1919. He grew up in Urbandale and was in the first ever Urbandale High graduating class of 1937. He served in the Coast Guard in WWII and was crossing the mid- Pacific on an LST when the war ended. He married Wahneta (Pat) F. Cross on January 30, 1941 and they resided chiefly in Des Moines until her death in 2006.
Merle was many things and good at virtually everything: coal truck driver, Ordnance Plant gunner, sailor, homebuilder, carpenter, pilot, floor finisher, storyteller, Firestone tire builder, custodian and school bus driver for Johnston Schools. He traveled widely, enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, boating, woodworking, gardening, bowled in several leagues, and was surely one of the best "tinkerers" ever.
Merle was known for his sense of humor which was too sly for some, too tactless for a few, but widely enjoyed by most.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Pat and infant son, Bruce, as well as his sisters Marjorie and Darlene, and a brother, Duane. He is survived by two sons, Ken (Jo) and Rick (Shelly) Boatwright, along with four grandchildren, Bryan (Lori), Katie, Colin and Lisa Boatwright, one great-grandchild, Jared Ren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Hospice Johnston or the Urbandale High School Memorial.
Join the family on Friday, October 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Merle Hay Funeral Home for visitation. Services are Saturday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, including burial with full military honors at Chapel Hill Gardens.
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