Gene Carl Merklein, Sr.

Mr. Gene Carl Merklein, Sr., 71, of 51 Circle Drive, NE, Concord, NC, a loving father and grandfather, died Friday, April 26, 2002, at NorthEast Medical Center in Concord. Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 PM Monday, April 29, 2002, at Lakewood Baptist Church in Kannapolis. Rev. Robert D. Howard and Rev. Chad Harvey will officiate. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park with military graveside rites conducted by the Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center of Charlotte. Pallbearers for Mr. Merklein are Pete Belk, Frenchie Davis, Bobby Mullis, Tony Byrd, Ray Spry, and Don Hooper. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9:00 PM Sunday at Lady's Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the residence of Mr. Merklein, 51 Circle Drive, NE, Concord. Mr. Merklein was born January 9, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA. He was a son of the late Maurice Daugherty and Mary Pruitt Daugherty. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1965 after 21 years as a Hospitalman First Class (HM1). He graduated in 1974 from UNC Charlotte. He was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church, VFW, DAV, American Legion. He was also a Mason and a Shriner, and was a member of the Sudan Temple in New Bern, NC. Mr. Merklein is survived by his wife, Linda Tucker Beaver Merklein; two sons, Gene Merklein, Jr. of Charlotte, Brandon Beaver, Sr. of Concord; daughter, Cindy Beaver of Concord; two brothers, Jack Merklein, Sr. of Crisfield, MD, Maurice Daugherty, Jr. of Frederick, MD; three grandchildren, Priscilla Merklein, Jennifer Merklein, Abigail Nelson, all of Charlotte; two great grandchildren, Brandon Beaver, Jr. of Concord, Jasper Furr of Charlotte. Memorials may be sent to Lakewood Baptist Church, 806 Kluttz Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605-4277.