obit - not Russell Co. - but AHSGR Merrill was a former V.C. for Galka. Thought you would want to know ........................... Merrill V. Younkin 1925 - 2007 EDMONDS, Wash. - Devoted, loving husband and father, Merrill Vernon Younkin, 82, joined the mate of his soul, Dorothy V. Younkin, who preceded him in death last year. He quietly passed away on Aug. 16, 2007. Born in Great Bend, Feb. 2, 1925, he was the youngest son of Charles F. and Nannie S. Younkin. After graduating from Great Bend High School in 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving his country honorably and with distinction aboard the destroyer, USS Wallace L. Lind (DD-703) until 1946. Returning home from the war, he was introduced to Dorothy Kerbs, and later, on Dec. 22, 1946, they married. He graduated from Wichita Business College under the GI Bill and accepted an Industrial Engineering position (IE) with The Boeing Company in Wichita. Merrill would spend 37 successful years with The Boeing Company. He joined Boeing Management in 1951. In 1968 he transferred to Everett, Wash., and dedicated the next several years of his life contributing to the success of the 747, immortalized in Boeing lore along with fellow Everett employees of the time, known as "The Incredibles." He served on the Executive Management Council for the United Way of Snohomish County, Wash. Merrill retired from Boeing in 1987 as senior director of Industrial Engineering at Renton, Wash. In his career he was involved with the B-47, B-52 and all Boeing commercial airplanes through the 767. Merrill and Dorothy enjoyed a long, relaxing and enjoyable retirement traveling the country in their motor home, visiting many exotic locations and their annual winter sojourn to Palm Springs, Calif. During his retirement years, he devoted much time to the research of family genealogy. Early in adult life he spent over 15 years working with the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lynnwood Elks 2717, American Legion Post 66, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3070, and St. Matthew Lutheran Church. His lifelong hobby was coin collecting and he was an active member of the American Numismatic Association and Society of Paper Money Collectors. Merrill is survived by his son Keith and daughter Jayne Younkin, both of Edmonds, Wash.; sisters, Francis Fox and Patricia Baxter of Great Bend, and 20 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, older brothers George, Wayne and Dwight; and the Love of his Life, wife Dorothy. Merrill will always be remembered for his love and devotion of family, his compassion for others, adventurous spirit and his sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives and hearts he touched in so many ways. Funeral service will be at Edmonds Lutheran Church on 23525 84th Avenue West, Edmonds, Wash., on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Viewing will be 10:30 a.m. until noon. There will be a gathering during this time with refreshments and socializing prior to the service. The service begins at noon. Burial with military honors will immediately follow the service, at Edmonds Cemetery, 820 15th Ave SW. In lieu of flowers, cash donations may be given to the Edmonds Fire Safety Foundation, P.O. Box 157, Edmonds, WA 98020. Funeral arrangements provided by Beck¹s Funeral Home* 405 Fifth Ave. South/Box 1567 Edmonds, WA 98020-1567 Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 26, 2007 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.8/973 - Release Date: 8/25/2007 5:00 PM