Merrill "Bob" Robert Wendel

Merrill Robert (Bob) Wendel, 93, passed away on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at Hospice of the Golden Isles. He was born October 19, 1929, in Rochester, New York to Edward Merlin Wendel and Helen Lyle Brown Wendel. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1947 where he played flute in the band and ran track. After high school, Bob joined the United States Coast Guard and was stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Briar in Brunswick, Georgia where he met Margie McDonald at a function at Norwich Street Baptist Church. They married on his birthday in 1951.

After Bob was discharged from the Coast Guard, he and Margie returned to his hometown of Rochester, NY. They lived there until 1958. Deciding that the snow was not much fun, they returned to Brunswick to establish their forever home. Bob worked at McDonald’s Radio and TV, Best Wall, Benton Brothers, Allied Van Lines, United States Post Office, NAS Glynco, and FLETC.

Bob enjoyed a lifelong love of music and enjoyed playing the guitar, tenor sax, bagpipes, and accordion. He co-founded a country folk group called Briarpatch with his best friend Bill Gilmer. Briarpatch played throughout the area at local clubs, churches, and provided programs for school children. Over the years, Bob also played with Buster Sweeney’s Band, The Haz Benz, The Silver-Haired Trio, Stardust, The Darien Drugstore Cowboys, The Woodbine Opry, and the House Band at Al Chapman’s Confederate Station. He also entertained every week at Sears Manor Nursing Home for many years until his aging body was no longer able to play the music that he loved.

Bob was a member of First Methodist Church and was also very active in the Boys Scouts where he served as the Webelos Den Leader for Pack 201, Scoutmaster of Troop 204, and served many years on the Eagle Board for the Okefenokee Council.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margie McDonald Wendel; sister, Eleanor Gunter Nicholas; and brother, Edward (Eddie) Merlin Wendel II.

He is survived by his son, Mickey Wendel (Marcia) of Brunswick; daughter, Lynda Stevenson (Jimmy) of St. Simons; daughter, Susan Wendel of Brunswick; step-brother, David Mooney (Sheri) of St. Petersburg, FL; step-sister, Isobel Evans of Tampa, FL; and step-sister, Janis Harper of Rochester, NY.

Bob had 9 grandchildren: Matt Hubbard (Mandy), Chad Hubbard (Katherine), Chris Thigpen (Brittany), Nick Thigpen, Ashley Ember, Casey Thigpen (Elizabeth), Stephanie Thigpen, Alan Wendel (Tracey), and Amy Powers (Jason). Bob also had 12 great-grandchildren.

The visitation will be on Monday, November 21 at 1:00pm at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow at 2:00pm in the Edo Miller Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles: 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525, or Boy Scout Troop 224, 284 Bateau Circle, Brunswick, GA 31523.

Arrangements are under the direction of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.