Merrill Bleyle
April 20, 1926 — July 16, 2013
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Interment
Merrill Bleyle
He was born on April 20, 1926 in Melrose, a son of the late Gustave Bleyle and Angie (Blanchard) Bleyle.
Merrill graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1944.He then served in the US Army Air Forces during WWII from 1944 - 1946.Merrill reached the rank of Sergeant and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan when the war was announced over.He returned home from his deployment and continued his education. After initially starting college at the University of Massachusetts "feeder" school at Ft Devens, he transferred to Tufts University and received his B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1950 and M.S. degree from Northeastern University in 1962.
Merrill devoted his working career to the W.R. Grace Company as a Research and Development Chemist at their Cambridge and Lexington locations.He had a keen interest in polymerization in the Organic Chemicals Division.Merrill authored and co-authored 21 patents during his career with W.R. Grace (originally Dewey & Almy) during a career that spanned over 35 years.Mr. Bleyle was a longstanding member of W.R. Grace's Quarter Century Club.
Mr. Bleyle lived in Waltham for 30 years where he was a North Waltham Little League manager, and a lifelong member of VFW Post #10334.
Merrill stayed very active throughout his life.While at W.R. Grace, he would go for lunchtime runs around Fresh Pond.He built the family cabin on Knox Mountain in Center Ossipee, New Hampshire.He was proud of the fact that he could "divine for water."While living in Melrose, he handcrafted a wooden boat in the backyard.Merrill loved skiing at King Pine in New Hampshire.He also loved to fly and had successfully obtained his private pilot's license.Dancing was also a joy of his life.He particularly enjoyed square dancing and church suppers.Merrill loved his family and cherished his adopted rescue golden retrievers, Ginger, Mitzi, Cally, and Pumpkin.
Merrill was the beloved husband of the late Bernice (McQueen) Cooke Bleyle and Doris (Anderson) Bleyle.Devoted father of Alan M. Bleyle of Billerica, and the late Corinne J. Rogers.Step-father of Deidra L. Cooke of Cambridge.Dear brother of the late Margaret Roberts, Eleanor Larrabee, Gustave A. Bleyle, Jr. and Robert S. Bleyle.Cherished grandfather of Justin M. Rogers of Hopkinton, step grandfather of Adrienne Sunday of Tennessee, and Leah M. Cooke of Washington. Great grandfather of Jeremiah M. Rogers, and step great grandfather of AJ, Aidan and Jack.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor and remembrance of Merrill's life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Tuesday, July 23 from 4-8 PM, and again for his Funeral Service celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AMInterment with military honors presented by the US Air Force in Mt. Feake Cemetery, Waltham.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merrill Bleyle, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
Visitation
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
4:00 - 8:00 pm
Robinson Funeral Home
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