Merlin Darrell Bartlett

Merlin Bartlett was born on July 25, 1949, in Carroll, Iowa, to parents of Harold and Mavis (Lange) Bartlett. He grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa, and attended Wall Lake High School, where he graduated in 1967. Merlin attended CE School of Commerce in Omaha, Nebraska, and received his associate's degree in Business Administration. He then enlisted in the Navy in 1969, completed basic training in San Diego and Radioman A School in Bainbridge, Maryland. He was honored as a Senior Servicemember of the Quarter based on his outstanding job performance as a Tech Controller and a Leading Petty Officer. He enjoyed donating much off-duty time to Philippine Hope Mission, and was a member of the Subic Bay Softball Team, Horseshoe Team, and has been President of three Fil-Am Bowling Leagues. Chief Radioman Merlin D. Bartlett also received the Navy Commendation Medal.

After retiring as RMC Bartlett in 1994, he joined the U.S. Postal Service and worked there for more than 20 dedicated years where he was recognized as the Mail Handler of the Quarter. He retired in 2015 and volunteered for numerous organizations, including the San Diego Padres, Father Joe's Villages, Olympic Training Center, and Farmers Insurance Golf Tournament, to keep himself busy and give back to the community.

Merlin had a passion for traveling and always had an itch to experience new things. When he was not visiting his dear close friends, he enjoyed spending most of his days, either gardening all day with his wife, going to a Padres game with family, or watching his grandchildren Johnny and Mila. Merlin was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved him.

Merlin will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 38 years, Maria Luisa "Malou," and his children Mark, Michael, Maria Ashley, and Angela. Merlin will also be remembered by his six grandchildren, great grandchild, and his sister Marsha Bartlett Bornhorst and brother-in-law Rob Bornhorst.

A Celebration of Merlin's life will be held from 10 am to 2 pm, on Thursday, May 28, at El Cajon Mortuary and Cremation Service. The address is 684 South Mollison Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dignitymemorial.com for the Bartlett family.