Retired Lt. Colonel Ehud "Ed" Merkel, United States Air Force, retired, 90, passed away Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at his Palm Springs, FL home following a brief illness. Lt. Colonel Merkel was born August 30, 1920 in Java, SD to the late Jacob and Katherine (Rueb) Merkel and moved to the West Palm Beach area in 1961 from Spokane, WA. He served in the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron, Kolts Crew and was the Co-Pilot of the "Paper Dolly". The Paper Dolly was shot down February 22, 1944 on their 16th mission. Their target was Oschersleben, Germany and the plane went down at Kurkenbruch, Germany. He was a Prisoner of War for almost two years at Stalag Luft 1. Lt. Colonel Merkel is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Helen (Downs) Merkel of Palm Springs; son, Gary L. Merkel of California; daughters, Janet (Paul) Cunningham of West Palm Beach; Judy Rae (Tom) Ferguson of Lexington, KY; five grandchildren; A Gathering of family and friends will be 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Saturday, February 26, 2011 at TILLMAN FUNERAL HOME, 2170 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Graveside inurnment will be 11:00 AM, Friday March 4, 2011 at South Florida National Cemetery with the United States Air Force providing military honors.
Palm Beach Post, The (FL) - February 25, 2011
Palm Beach Post, The (FL) - February 25, 2011
Retired Lt. Colonel Ehud "Ed" Merkel, United States Air Force, retired, 90, passed away Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at his Palm Springs, FL home following a brief illness. Lt. Colonel Merkel was born August 30, 1920 in Java, SD to the late Jacob and Katherine (Rueb) Merkel and moved to the West Palm Beach area in 1961 from Spokane, WA. He served in the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron, Kolts Crew and was the Co-Pilot of the "Paper Dolly". The Paper Dolly was shot down February 22, 1944 on their 16th mission. Their target was Oschersleben, Germany and the plane went down at Kurkenbruch, Germany. He was a Prisoner of War for almost two years at Stalag Luft 1. Lt. Colonel Merkel is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Helen (Downs) Merkel of Palm Springs; son, Gary L. Merkel of California; daughters, Janet (Paul) Cunningham of West Palm Beach; Judy Rae (Tom) Ferguson of Lexington, KY; five grandchildren; A Gathering of family and friends will be 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Saturday, February 26, 2011 at TILLMAN FUNERAL HOME, 2170 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Graveside inurnment will be 11:00 AM, Friday March 4, 2011 at South Florida National Cemetery with the United States Air Force providing military honors.
Palm Beach Post, The (FL) - February 25, 2011
Palm Beach Post, The (FL) - February 25, 2011
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