Glenn Wilburn Merrell

Glenn Wilburn Merrell died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in River Ridge Nursing Home, Wynne, Arkansas. He was born August 1, 1923, on a farm near Crawfordsville, Arkansas. He was the fourth of eight children born there to Golda Barks Merrell and William Wesley Merrell. With his oldest brother in the Army in Germany, the other older brother in the Civilian Conservation Corp, and his older sister working in an ammunition plant near Lonoke, Glenn dropped out of school after completing the 11th grade, to help his Father when the family moved to a farm near Parkin. Four years later, his Father bought a farm just West of Forrest City, where Glenn lived until entering a hospital in Forrest City in late April, 2012. Glenn was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Jean Satterfield; his parents; older brothers Cecil Raymond and Lewis Chamberlin (LC); older sister, Alma Ruth Short; younger brothers, Virgil and Bill. He is survived by a younger brother, Curtis; and younger sister, Betty Jo Griffith (Gordon); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and many friends. He and Margaret did not have any children. In 1944, Glenn was on a bus to Little Rock's Camp Robinson to be inducted into the Army when he became very ill. While being examined at a hospital, it was determined that he had a ruptured appendix. He had emergency surgery and spent about six weeks in the hospital. He was then released to return to farming. Cecil was killed in combat in Germany in 1945 and Glenn's Father died with a heart attack shortly afterward. Glenn assumed total responsibility for the farming operation and taking care of his Mother and four younger siblings. He worked from daylight into the night. He was one of the first farmers in St. Francis County to use an aluminum pipe -sprinkler irrigation system and won many blue ribbons at the County Fair. He postponed marriage until all his younger siblings finished high school and left the farm. He then rented his Mother an apartment in Forrest City. As a young man, even with all the hours he worked on the farms, Glenn still found time to play some weekend baseball and competed in Golden Gloves boxing in Memphis. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Forrest City for over 60 years, where he taught Sunday School and served as a Deacon for many years. In his younger years he enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially duck hunting. In later years he enjoyed reading and visiting with his friends at the nearby Farmers Cooperative and in restaurants in and near Forrest City. He was a young man who gave up any other dreams or plans he may have had, by dropping out of school to help his parents and four younger siblings have a better life. He was an intelligent, honest, hard working, Christian, patriotic, humorous, giver. He helped a lot of people. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Forrest City. Burial will follow at Forrest Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 before the service at the church. Visit online registry at stevensfuneralhome.net. Under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.