Merchant, Ramon Dale

Ramon Dale Merchant, 77, of Vinton, died Sunday, May 27, 2012, at Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 31, at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., in Vinton, with the Rev. Jim Blair officiating. Friends may register at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until service time. Private Committal Services will be held at Maplewood Cemetery in Vinton.

Dale was born on Nov. 19, 1934, in Vinton to Carl and Elsie Williams Merchant. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Vinton in 1953. He served his country in the United States Army.

On April 16, 1957, he was united in marriage to Sylvia Ann Koehn in Vinton.

Dale is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sylvia; three daughters, Melodee Lohrer of Van Horne, Angela Merchant-Stueck (Rodney Stueck) of Vinton, and Kim Frazier (Fred) of Hollywood, Md.; three brothers, Donovon (Viola), Derold (Karen) and Terry, all of Vinton; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by two stepbrothers and a stepsister.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother and a stepbrother.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Virginia Gay Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Hospice of Mercy for their care.

A memorial fund has been established.

Condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette May 29, 2012.