James V. Merritt Sr.

James was the loving father to his daughter, Dr. Virginia E. Merritt of Newton Center, Massachusetts, and his son, Pastor James V. Merritt, Jr. and wife Diane Marie Merritt of Leland, North Carolina.

He is also survived by grandson Nicolas, grandson Niles and wife Samantha, grandson Nathaniel, his wife Lauren, and their children Daniel, Levi and Gracie.

As a young man, James grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, earned his Eagle rank in Boy Scouts, and was Valedictorian of his graduating class in high school. James graduated from Purdue University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He spent his career serving thousands of children as a coach, educator, and administrator, for 38 years, in Warren Township, in Indianapolis, Indiana. After retiring to the Velda Rose community in Mesa, Arizona, he took up volunteerism. His most recent place of service was Banner Heart Hospital, where he gave over 10,000 hours to the patients and families who, like himself, battled with heart disease. One year he was honored for accruing the highest number of volunteer hours at the Heart Hospital.

As a life-long survivor of polio and its cruel consequences, he chose to focus on his abilities, rather than on his disabilities, seeing challenges as possibilities and obstacles as opportunities.

Isaiah 40:31 – “but they who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

A celebration of life will take place Monday, June 13th at 10am, in the chapel of the Citadel Assisted Living Center, 520 S. Higley Road, Mesa, Arizona.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the American Heart Association .