Merritt A. Bender, 93, of Palmer Township, formerly of Hellertown, Allentown and Bethlehem, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at his son’s residence.
He was the husband of the late Doris (Prosser) Bebb Bender and Gloria S. (Selvage) Bender. He was born in Bethlehem on Nov. 26, 1921 to the late Merritt A. Bender Sr. and Kathryn B (Briar) Bender. He worked for the Fuller Co. as a cost estimator for eight years, and Bethlehem Steel for 34 years in the production department, retiring in 1973 as a cost estimator. He earned an associate’s in accounting degree at Penn State. He was a member of Mountainview Moravian Church, Hellertown; First UCC Dart Team, Hellertown; Zion Choral, Zion Hill, where he sang for eight years as a second tenor; the former Bethlehem Steel Club; and the Bethlehem MORA Club.
SURVIVORS
Children: Douglas K. and his wife Terri of Fountain Valley, Calif., Kurt B. and his wife Elaine of Palmer Township; grandchildren: Andrew and Eric. He was predeceased by a sister: Mildred Bender.
SERVICE
Family and friends are invited to call from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 at the Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., 326 Main St., Hellertown. The calling hour will be followed by the service at 11 a.m. The interment will conclude services at Bethlehem Memorial Park. Online expressions of sympathy can be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com.
CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountainview Moravian Church, 331 Constitution Ave., Hellertown, PA 18055.
