Hollister resident Carl Robert Merlo died Wednesday, Nov. 5 at
Palo Alto Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto after a lengthy illness.
He was 77.
Carl Robert Merlo
Hollister resident Carl Robert Merlo died Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Palo Alto Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto after a lengthy illness. He was 77.
He was born in Hammond, Ind., and came to San Benito County in 1985.
He served in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division during World War II and in the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War. He also served in the 101st Airborne Division for many years before retiring in 1966. He received many medals, including two Purple Hearts.
After he retired from the military, he became a football coach for Junipero Serra High School (1966-1969), Carmel High School (1971-1974), and Gavilan College (1975-1978).
Mr. Merlo loved coaching kids and coached Pop Warner Football in Hollister and at Sacred Heart School.
He is survived by his wife Edith Merlo of Hollister; sons Carl R. (Cynthia) Merlo of Hanford, and Mike Merlo of San Jose; grandson Edward-Ryan Merlo of Hollister; granddaughter Alisabeth-Rose Merlo of Hollister; sister-in-law Ingrid White of Salinas; brother-in-law James White of Salinas; and nieces Suzanne (Ken) Aford of Glendale, Ariz., and Anna Mae McCambridge of Dyer, Ind. He is also survived by many additional relatives in the Midwest.
Friends may visit at the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Monday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be in the funeral home chapel Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m.
Graveside services will be full military rites provided by the Merced County VFW on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the San Joaquin National Cemetery in Gustine.
